I am building a pond. Which is better? To build a earthen spillway or a piped spillway?
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Depending on the size of your pond, you may need a professional engineer to approve your design. In some states, they have to give approval for them too (especially if you have to build a dam to hold the water).
Sounds like fun. Good luck.
Depending on the size of the pond. I have made an earthen spillway for a 20 X 10' pond, and lined with mortar and stone. Be sure it is strong enough that the overflow does not undercut the mortar and stone.
It depends on you pond the open is nice to watch listen to when done but can create erosion problems . where pipe is less likily to do so. But if its a small pond go open and use stone rocks cement to control errosion.
Have fun
Proper spillway design depends upon the size of the pond, surrounding topography and soil conditions. Your best resource for this would be your local agricultural extension agent.
In most states, you need a permit to construct a pond or lake, even if you do not need a permit for other building projects. Improper design can affect property owners around you. If you build a pond upstream or up grade from a neighbor and it breaks, you can send quite a flood their way, so it becomes a public safety issue.
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