Life in a Minnetonka is peaceful, with most people having their own homes. The place is the perfect solace for retired people and young professionals seeking their place. The location is complete heaven with top-rated schools, many coffee shops, and recreational parks.
Quite naturally, if you live in the western suburb of Hennepin County of Minnesota, you would have a lot of time to spare. And when you have a home of your own in a quiet suburban area, you would want to accentuate it. As such, backyard pond installation in Minnetonka, MN, might just be what you need to give your property a makeover.
Even the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), MN, makes having your own excavated pond easy. But for that, what you need to do is adhere to some factors. So, let’s have a look.
- Consider the Soil
When digging a pond, you need to consider the soil first, as the stability of the bottom of the pond depends on it. Other than that, other factors like pH and salinity of the water rely on this. So you will need a nutrient-rich soil type if you want to have some natural plants growing around the pond. Clay, silty clay, and clay loam soils are ideally the best for constructing ponds. In this way, Minnetonka homes are perfect for building ponds since there is an abundance of silty clay and silty clay loam soils. You would also need to cut some steps within the pond right down to the bottom to make it easy for you to get in and out. This way, you can take better care of the underwater vegetation and keep the pond clean.
- Learn About Public Waters Work Permit
In Minnesota, you need to get work permits for any construction work in your home. Fortunately, there are some exemptions regarding waterfall and pond installation in Minnetonka, MN. The DNR does not ask for any work permit for excavated ponds in your backyard if it is not deeper than the ordinary high-water level (OWHL) of the wetland.
To confirm this, you have to get in touch with a DNR wildlife manager and collect the construction information. This is even more important if you wish to attract some wildlife to make your pond installation look more natural.
- Find the Right Contractor
You may be tempted to do the job yourself, but it is better to seek professional help for pond installation in Minnetonka, MN. There are many finer details that you may overlook while doing the project yourself, but an experienced contractor will know all the nitty-gritty of the installation.
For instance, during the final step of the pond installation, you may need to cover the underlying less fertile soil with black topsoil. This is to enrich the existing soil so that the food chain in your pond can sustain itself. Meanwhile, soil excavation can result in the ground losing its fertility, causing stunted plant growth.
Also, the professional contractor will be more aware of the regulations in Minnesota. For instance, even if you do not need a Public Waters permit, you may still need to adhere to Minnesota’s Wetland Regulations and Conservation Act.
Having a pond is the perfect solution to give yourself a taste of nature in your own residential area. And for many people in Minnetonka, MN, this reminds them of their childhood. This is especially true for the elderly, who cannot frequently visit Lake Minnetonka or Lone Lake. So, having a pond installed can solve the problem and create a natural haven in your own backyard. This will accentuate your outdoor area naturally, giving a dramatic transformation. Moreover, you can expect visitors like birds if you are able to create a natural habitat for them. So keep the above factors in mind when excavating the pond, and you will be good to go.
