I've taken on a job renovating a pond and waterfall system that runs through a miniature golf course. It consists of a "cave/mountain" at the top. Water is pumped (via a pool pump) from the bottom pond to the top of the mountain. (the "mountain" is a large, concrete structure with a "cave" underneath as part of the course) From there it cascades off the top of the mountain on three sides. The back side has a catch basin. It's approx. 40 feet long by 8 feet wide and has a depth of roughly 10". There are also cascades that drop to a stream that carries the overflow from the mentioned catch basin to the first pond. (Approx 20 feet in diameter and 18" deep in the center) There is a final cascade that flows down the front to that same pond. From that pond, the overflow travels along a shallow waterway to a smaller pond. (Abt. 12 feet in diamter and 16" deep) From there it overflows to a smaller stream to the main pond. (Approx. 30 feet by 16 feet and 3 feet deep in the middle) That pond contains the intake to the pump system. We estimate (really rough numbers) it to be 12-15,000 gallons.
Sorry for the long description but I'm trying to set a visual.
When we started, the whole system was filled with rotting vegetation. Leaves and twigs and black walnuts. We also found lot and lots of frogs. The whole system was at one time chlorinated. Treated more like a pool than a natural water feature. After spending an entire day catching and realeasing frogs (humanely released into the neighboring stream), all the water was pumped out and left to dry for two weeks. The entire waterway was repaired with thinset mortar and waterproofed with a latex clearcoat. Seeing the frogs, the new owner thought they'd be great to have in the system. They'd lower the mosquito count and the kids would love to see them.
This is ending soon, I promise...
So the question is, quite simply, where do I start? We'd like to add plants to the ponds. We want to keep the water clean without chemicals. And we want to have a nice environment for the local wildlife. We also want to know how to set it up so we don't have to disturb the frogs (and anyone else that moves in) in the winter.
I hope I haven't made this too confusing. Please ask me any questions you like for clarification.
Thank you all in advance.
Sorry for the long description but I'm trying to set a visual.
When we started, the whole system was filled with rotting vegetation. Leaves and twigs and black walnuts. We also found lot and lots of frogs. The whole system was at one time chlorinated. Treated more like a pool than a natural water feature. After spending an entire day catching and realeasing frogs (humanely released into the neighboring stream), all the water was pumped out and left to dry for two weeks. The entire waterway was repaired with thinset mortar and waterproofed with a latex clearcoat. Seeing the frogs, the new owner thought they'd be great to have in the system. They'd lower the mosquito count and the kids would love to see them.
This is ending soon, I promise...
So the question is, quite simply, where do I start? We'd like to add plants to the ponds. We want to keep the water clean without chemicals. And we want to have a nice environment for the local wildlife. We also want to know how to set it up so we don't have to disturb the frogs (and anyone else that moves in) in the winter.
I hope I haven't made this too confusing. Please ask me any questions you like for clarification.
Thank you all in advance.