Healthy Duck Ponds
We were fortunate enough to be selected to design and install a large duck pond in Clear Lake, MN in the summer of 2024. The three keys to a successful duck pond are filtration, filtration, filtration. Proper filtration starts with a robust Natural Filtration System. This system mimics nature, using layers of different sized rocks and plants to physically trap and biologically break down impurities, which results in clearer and healthier water.
Bacteria and fungi colonize the gravel in a Natural Filtration System, consuming organic waste and nutrients, while aquatic plants absorb the remaining nutrients.
Duck Care
Eight years ago, we adopted four baby ducks for the Summer. One mallard, two runners and one peaking enjoyed our private pond water feature. They were certainly living large and enjoying life. And boy, did I learn a lot about duck care. They may be cute, but they sure are messy, and they poop an awful lot.
It’s important to install plants in the pond, but remember ducks are voracious eaters. You’ll need to protect planting in and around the pond. I had success with fences and nets to protect plantings.
Clear Lake Duck Pond
For the Clear Lake Duck Pond, we built rock ramps in the shallow area of the pond to allow the ducks to easily enter and exit the pond. One common mistake is to make the pond too shallow. A deeper pond is a healthier pond, so we like to make our duck ponds 3.5’ to 4’ deep. This depth will keep the pond cooler and thus decrease algae blooms.
This last fall, we returned to Clear Lake to shut down and winterize the pond for winter. The water in the pond was crystal clear despite a dozen ducks using it all season and the pond being in full sun. The Natural Filtration System was working beautifully filtering the high nitrogen load from the pooping ducks, and the 4’ depth of the pond kept the temps lower.
Want to build a pond for the local ducks in your backyard? We have the tools and knowledge to create a pond perfect for your home without you having to lift a finger.