Questions regarding fish stocking and weed control should be referred to the local MSU Extension office. Most ponds in Genesee County are built primarily for fishing, with one or more of the other uses as secondary purposes. The excavated pond is constructed by digging a pit in impervious soils to contain surface runoff or in a soil with a stable high water table. The impoundment pond is built to block runoff or stream water. Because of the topography and water table in this region, most ponds are excavated.
Smaller ponds are suitable for some other uses.
If a pond is installed for wildlife use in an existing wetlands then a ratio of 50 percent open water to 50 percent vegetative cover is suggested. To verify the stability of the water level, expose and observe it for one full summer season before building the pond. Gray subsoil colors are a good indicator of saturated conditions, while a mixture of bright and dull grays indicate a variable, water table. For those ponds that rely on surface runoff for their water supply, 6-10 acres of drainage area is needed for each acre of pond. Very large drainage areas cause problems if part of the water is not diverted around the pond.