Aquaculture Ponds
Cortney L. Ohs, Ph.D.
Topics
• Site Considerations
– Water
– Soil
– Topography
– Types of ponds
– Cost
• Construction of ponds
– Levee ponds
– Watershed ponds
– Lined ponds
Water
• Availability
– 25 gallons per minute
per acre
• Source
– Wells
– Springs
– Streams
• Pesticides
– TEST Water!!
• Alkalinity
– 80 ppm minimum
Soil
• Clay Content
–Take samples at various locations.
• Water Table
• Wet soils aren't best!
• Pesticides
–TEST Soil!!
Topography
• Slope
–2-10% best
• Flooding
–Do not build on floodplain!
Levee Pond Construction
• Freeboard and Depth
–1-2 feet freeboard
–3 feet in shallow and
–6 feet in drain end
• Slope of Levees
–3: 1 minimum
–4: 1 maximum
Levee Pond Construction
• Size
– Larger ponds are cheaper per acre
– 1-10 acres for new farmers
• Shape
– 10 acre square
• requires 2,569 linear feet
– 10 acre rectangular
• requires 2,729 linear feet
• Levee width
– 20 ft for main
– 16 ft for others
Levee Pictures
Photos by Cortney Ohs
Levee Pond Construction
Photos by Cortney Ohs
Newly Constructed Pond
Photo by Cortney Ohs
Levee Ponds - Catfish
Photos by Auburn University
Department of Fisheries and
Allied Aquaculture
Levee Ponds - Shrimp
Photos by Auburn University
Department of Fisheries and
Allied Aquaculture
Small Research Pond
Photo by Cortney Ohs
Graveled vs. Not Graveled Levees
Photos by Auburn University
Department of Fisheries and
Allied Aquaculture
Orientation
• Right angle to prevailing winds reduces
levee erosion
• Parallel increases wind action action and
aeration
• Site Preparation and Construction
–Remove vegetation and topsoil.
–Compaction is critical
Pond Drains
• Typically 6 inch pipe is sufficient for ponds
less than 10 acres
• If ponds must be drained to harvest
(shrimp) then use one 10 inch per acre of
water
• PVC pipe
• Use anti-seep sleeve around pipe deep in
levee
Pond Stand Pipes
External
Photos by Auburn University
Department of Fisheries and
Allied Aquaculture
Internal with swivel joint
Water Inlets
• Water source pipes
should have control
valves on them
• May be designed to
flow into adjacent
ponds
Photo by Cortney Ohs
Electricity
• Electrical source for each pond
Lined Ponds
Photo by Cortney Ohs
Watershed Ponds
• Watershed is containment free
• Depth is a function of topography
• Requires 5-7 acres of watershed per acre
of water
• Must have emergency spillway