What is a farm pond?

Farm ponds are pools of water that are constructed using either a dam (embankment pond) or a pit (excavation pond). They collect and store surface runoff from a watershed area 10-20 times greater than their surface area, reducing the streamflow by 10-30%. Ponds can reduce phosphorus loads by 85% and prevent soil erosion by eliminating gullies. For livestock producers, ponds can provide drinking water for livestock. Ponds enhance the aesthetic beauty of the landscape, provide fish and wildlife habitat and can serve as an emergency water source.