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Natural swimming pond v 3

 
elle sagenev
pollinator
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Location: Zone 5 Wyoming
509
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Had a lot of failure with naturally sealing the pond with bentonite. So I bought a pond liner. RPE. So far, so good. Enjoy the pictures.
IMG_20220727_084422.jpg
Baby drowning prevention fence, temporary
Baby drowning prevention fence, temporary
IMG_20220727_084450.jpg
Liner arrived
Liner arrived
IMG_20220727_084519.jpg
I always have help
I always have help

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elle sagenev
pollinator
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509
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More pics. Stretching the liner was HARD. Seriously damaged my hands but I couldn't grip it with gloves on.
IMG_20220727_100902.jpg
pond liner for natural swimming pool
IMG_20220727_100909.jpg
pond liner for natural swimming pool

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elle sagenev
pollinator
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509
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Kids were dying to put water in it so while I anchored the liner they made a water slide.
IMG_20220727_103827.jpg
kids playing in natural swimming pool before filling with water
IMG_20220727_103829_1.jpg
kids playing in natural swimming pool before filling with water

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elle sagenev
pollinator
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I didn't get any good anchor trench pics but you can see it in the pics were I am putting edge rocks on.

Naturally harvested sandstone from our property and the wheat fields.
IMG_20220729_135457.jpg
sandstone edge rocks lining a natural swimming pool

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elle sagenev
pollinator
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Location: Zone 5 Wyoming
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Bermed the outside of the liner with regular dirt.
IMG_20220729_151002.jpg
natural swimming pool berm lined with rocks

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elle sagenev
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Putting gravel at the entrance. Hoping to do sand.
IMG_20220729_135428.jpg
laying a gravel entrance to a natural swimming pool

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elle sagenev
pollinator
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As you can see a lot more water and it's filthy. We had one huge storm. Blew a bunch of dirt in and added a foot of water.  I'm not fully filling the pond until I have the waterfall filter done and the no drowning babies fence fully installed.
IMG_20220729_135406.jpg
natural swimming pool partially filled with storm water

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Douglas Alpenstock
master pollinator
Posts: 3902
Location: Canadian Prairies - Zone 3b
1017
posted 1 year ago
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In dryland country, a reservoir of water is absolute gold. It's lifeblood, pure and simple.

It's not easy to seal a pond in some soil conditions. Sure, you could gley it if you had the time and livestock. Not everyone has this option.

I personally believe that any environmental cost of using a pond liner will be repaid 100x over in supporting the living landscape. In my experience, it's literally an oasis. Birds, bees, pollinators -- all of these will seek out your reliable source of water, set up shop, and thrive.

Well done!
 
elle sagenev
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Douglas Alpenstock wrote:In dryland country, a reservoir of water is absolute gold. It's lifeblood, pure and simple.

It's not easy to seal a pond in some soil conditions. Sure, you could gley it if you had the time and livestock. Not everyone has this option.

I personally believe that any environmental cost of using a pond liner will be repaid 100x over in supporting the living landscape. In my experience, it's literally an oasis. Birds, bees, pollinators -- all of these will seek out your reliable source of water, set up shop, and thrive.

Well done!



My kids already caught a truly massive water bug. We had barely turned the hose on and had dragonflies hovering, etc.

It is a wonderful thing. Water in our desert.

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elle sagenev
pollinator
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Lots happening still
IMG_20220805_105710.jpg
Everything wire hanger
Everything wire hanger
IMG_20220809_121933.jpg
Waterfall issues
Waterfall issues
IMG_20220809_122141.jpg
natural swimming pool

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elle sagenev
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I ran over my phone with the tractor. Messed up my camera.

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elle sagenev
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Plants are happening
received_780887426427115.jpeg
plants for swimming pond

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elle sagenev
pollinator
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Making our new fire pit near the pond.
IMG_20220809_191616.jpg
rock fire pit

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elle sagenev
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Pond is almost full. Plants are planted.
IMG_20220810_080035.jpg
swimming pond filling with water

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elle sagenev
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Plants are establishing themselves. I cut back all the dead parts.
IMG_20220822_103757.jpg
natural swimming pool with new plants
IMG_20220822_103805.jpg
water plants establishing themselves
IMG_20220822_103810.jpg
newly planted pond plant

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elle sagenev
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Water was clearing up but we swam in it. Stirred up all the dirt that's gotten into it.  I have been using muck away bacteria though. Makes a huge difference.

Created a great wildlife habitat though. It hasn't rained in ages so I think I am solely responsible for keeping all the birds, etc alive. They are so thirsty they don't care if we are in the pond when they're drinking.

We also saw toad eggs in the pond. Hard to get a picture.
IMG_20220822_103504.jpg
water in natural swimming pool
IMG_20220821_115611.jpg
Kids playing in natural swimming pool

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elle sagenev
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Need way more sand for the beach. 18 bags doesn't even cover it.
IMG_20220822_103413_1.jpg
beach for natural swimming pool

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elle sagenev
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We picked this buoy up off the beach in Japan when we lived there. It currently marks where the pump is so the kids avoid jumping on it.
IMG_20220822_103436.jpg
buoy to mark underwater pump

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elle sagenev
pollinator
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My waterfall sucks. Complete overhaul next year. It also turns out the pump is so powerful it launches all my filter medium out into the pond. Needs alteration. Ideas welcome.

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elle sagenev
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Boats for when it's too cold to swim
IMG_20220829_093715.jpg
little girl sitting on edge of pond

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elle sagenev
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Lots of snow and ice over the winter. Spring is here so its back to the pond.

I've begun dismantling the waterfall and intend to fix about half the pond edge. Its too steep. Rock edging keeps falling in.

Still much enjoyed.
20230423_161725.jpg
small child running on bank of natural swimming pond

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elle sagenev
pollinator
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Unusual amounts of rain have made slow progress but the edging is fixed. Left crevices for planting this go round and love the look. We will see what survives.

Pond is empty and meeds power washed. Then new filter is going in and ready to be filled. Almost there.
20230627_193638_HDR.jpg
swimming pond drained for cleaning
20230627_203852.jpg
pond plants growing in the rocks
20230627_193648_HDR.jpg
pond plants growing in the rocks

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elle sagenev
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Finally finished the pond filter and it's beautiful.
20230803_200138.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230803_200138.jpg]
20230808_070042.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230808_070042.jpg]
20230815_184521_HDR.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230815_184521_HDR.jpg]

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elle sagenev
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Seriously enjoying the pond and we aren't the only ones.
20230815_184244_HDR.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230815_184244_HDR.jpg]
20230815_183027.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230815_183027.jpg]

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elle sagenev
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The filter is blowing out a lot. Every time it does the filter medium falls to the bottom and then it doesn't work like it should. I debated putting some rods in the top when I made it but hubs thought the straps were a better option. Not quite working.
20230827_162351_HDR.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230827_162351_HDR.jpg]

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elle sagenev
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Pond is now crystal clear. Looking at it today I thought we had a strange algae growth until I touched it and it turned out to be worms. Waterfall worms apparently. We blasted them down into the pond where the fish are happily Eating them.
20230919_182919.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230919_182919.jpg]
20230919_182901.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230919_182901.jpg]
20230919_183037.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230919_183037.jpg]
20230919_184110.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230919_184110.jpg]

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