The pond, looking East to West, September 2011

After the stream was completed in mid-July, work began on the pond site which authorities had approved my layout based on a natural ravine in the north center of property. Because of the existing landscape it was only necessary to dam up the east and west ends and build slopes on north and south sides (south side I had staked out a nice inlet for shallow spawn area for swimming hole). Final pond is 2.25 acres, stocked in September with fingerlings of 4 types of edible sport fish (bluegills, red-eared sunfish, largemouth bass , and channel catfish) and a forage minnow. 2014 the fish will be large enough to start having fresh fish for dinner. Added hand collected crayfish, 2 types of turtles and 2 types of frogs from local streams and lakes. Spring of 2012 added bulrushes, cattails and water lilies to east end.