Designed by Biologists...
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Lake Pond and Stream Planning Design Construction Management |
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INTRODUCTION
Natural Swimming Ponds & Organic Natural Swimming Pools are simply defined as any pond or pool clean enough to provide a safe and enjoyable natural swimming environment without the use of additives and chemicals. They have existed throughout history at least as far back as early Roman civilization. We have added modern science to the mix to create swimming ponds with the clearest possible waters that look, function and feel very natural while maintaining themselves via the habitat ecology.
Natural ponds and pools have a unique potential that most traditional swimming pools lack: they have the potential to become a beautiful centerpiece to your land and landscape via flowering plants and dramatic natural settings. If poorly conceived, they can also appear to be a pool sunken in a swamp of grass. The option of natural beauty brings enhanced property value. The less aesthetic option results in litte or no financial gain. There is a decision to be made between an investment on one hand and a simple cost on the other.
A swim pond / pool can range from a very simple short term project intended to last until the children leave home, or they can be the centerpiece investment for an estate with the intention of passing them down through the generations. The simple ponds are often sealed with rubber or plastic while investment quality natural pools and swimming ponds are sealed with very long lasting natural clay or concrete pond liners. The key to investment quality waters are longevity and high quality aesthetics as a prime landscape feature; thus the vast majority of investment grade habitats are professionally designed which still presents DIY pond building opportunities.
EVALUATING POND / POOL QUALITY ~ THE 7 CRITICAL ELEMENTS
There is a very diverse range of quality in this largely unregulated realm. We want to take a moment to define the 7 critical qualities of waters so the uninitiated can evaluate offers and styles of ponds to avoid investing hard earned money in an inappropriate or poor pond design. The following are critical considerations and elements every quality body of water designed for swimming needs:
WHY AEROBIC CLEAR WATER MATTERS
Water in natural aquatic habitats decline in dissolved oxygen when they are not healthy or poorly designed. This causes the edges and sediments to become anaerobic. These are the conditions where disease causing pathogens thrive. While not every swimmer will continuosly come into contact with these zones, it happens often enough that contact with the pathogens is an concern. Clear water and slightly greenish water are almost always saturated with oxygen which prevents disease causing pathogens.
Brown or yellowish stained waters indicate partially broken down wastes from plants and animals. The usual reason for the presence of these colors in the water is much of the sediments or deeper water have become too low in oxygen for the wastes to be completely broken down to benign compounds. These conditions do exist in many natural waters, but it is not a good sign when they appear in a pool or pond designed for swimming. We see way too many ponds with brown color water, especially in autumn, which is a result of poor habitat design.
Other than the health issues, we ask why would anyone wish to invest hard earned funds into a pool with unattractive brown water? Beauty and aesthetics matter when it comes to investing in ponds, pools and landscapes.
Spring Creek will help you with a range of pond subjects including:
We are Biologists who design natural Swimming ponds with the highest attainable aesthetic quality, but don't let your desires stop there. A pond or lake can be created for very much more than just swimming! Think of everything you enjoy around or in the water. That is what our aquatic habitats are designed to do. Our primary tool as biologists is diverse scientific knowledge instead of equipment, filters, chemicals and additives. Our great depth of experience from designing a very wide range of complex lakes and stream habitats comes to bear with unique scientific design for these natural pools. Take time to review our thoughts and tips in this site. The Planning - Design guide , Faqs , Pond Construction Costs, Pond Liners and Myths pages are full of insights to help you develop the clear natural swim pond or stream of your dreams. We further help readers understand what Natural Ponds really are and what you are being sold as "natural".
Natural Swimming Ponds & Organic Natural Swimming Pools are simply defined as any pond or pool clean enough to provide a safe and enjoyable natural swimming environment without the use of additives and chemicals. They have existed throughout history at least as far back as early Roman civilization. We have added modern science to the mix to make swimming ponds that look, function and feel very natural.
As Biologists we focus on swimming ponds for several practical reasons:
We enjoy the vacation at home lifestyle as it relates to physiological health as well as mental and spiritual health. People travel for hours to reach what our clients enjoy every day from the sunrise view, to a weekend afternoon at the backyard beach to the brilliance of the setting sun over crystal clear water and wildflowers. These are fleeting qualities rarely matched in today's hectic lifestyle.
For people who love the sights and sounds of moving water, many of our ponds have streams built into them for a completely natural pond appearance. The streams are not required to maintain the ponds, but people have an innate desire to hear and see moving water. Streams also add significantly to property value. Our streams are built of the same natural materials we use in all our ponds and lakes. Our natural stream designs have riffles, falls and pools just like you see in a forest. We can design streams large enough float a canoe or just large enough to bring audible calm into your day.
We build a range of natural ponds and lakes, from small landscape ponds and swimming ponds up to more elaborate fish ponds and trophy fishing lakes. We will listen to your personal goals and blend them into a very natural pond for aesthetics, swimming and fishing, or we can design a pond for a single purpose. We can design a convertible pond that may begin as a swimming pond and later can be very easily converted into a fish pond if your goals change or if you sell the property to those who prefer a fish or fishing pond.
Real estate values become significantly higher when landscape features such as ponds have more than one purpose. Unlike a single use pond or pool, combination style ponds offer more uses over much more of each year. Fish and natural aesthetics offer more visual and recreational appeal during the cool months when most people do not swim. More uses translate to broader groups of people enjoying the water. A wider audience appeal equals greater real estate value which suggests ponds designed for a diversity of uses become a much better property investment instead of a simple cost. Add to this the idea that an exceptionally attractive pond is now the beautiful landscape element that increases land values further and you have realized the reason that multi-function and beauty combine to reach the highest property value. We boldly present images of our waters as the standard for natural aesthetics.
Remember, not all traditional swimming pools raise property values, but naturally gorgeous landscapes that also contain water raise real estate values significantly.
Contrary to most swimming pond designs, we embrace the presence of fish. Our careers as biologists are dedicated to the entire habitat ecology which lends us unique insights to swimming pools and ponds that not only tolerate fish, but benefit from their presence. In our habitats we "fear no fish". With more than a bit of insight and creative design, the ultimate outdoor playground may be one of our pristine trophy trout fishing lakes or ponds.
There are many styles and qualities of waters for swimming. Our preferred style of swimming pond construction possesses a very natural appearance. Rarely is a straight line found in our waters; it simply does not fit in what we see in nature unless it is a basalt stone column. The very first step in how to build a swimming pond is how does the client wish it to appear? In building a swimming pond do you wish to get away from the rectangular form of many swimming pools? Anything is possible. Building a swim pond to emulate a pristine pool in a river is attractive to many. The scientific details of our swimming pond construction techniques remain the same, but subtle changes are employed when we design swimming ponds in climates such has hot southern climates. Texas swimming ponds are challenged by torrential rain that threatens the health of typical swimming ponds. We are also aware of poisonous animals and predators that may lurk in shallow waters of many swim pond designs in southern states of Texas to Florida. Our scientific designs eliminate this problem.
We very often work with local contractors to build these natural pools and ponds across North America. Some prefer a local contractor and in this way you can have the best design along with a builder knowledgeable with materials in your specific location. A search for "swimming pond builders near me or in my area" may result in a much less effective design since our designs benefit from what we have learned by solving habitat design issues in many types of climates and geologies. Our wider range of techniques provide the client with the very best swimming pond / pool and beach while the client avoids local lack of experience and knowledge.
Be aware some local backyard garden pond builders may claim they build natural swimming ponds. Ask them if their ponds ever need cleaning. Also ask them if their natural pools will avoid choking with weeds after a decade or two. Weeds are easier to clear from a tiny pond. Finally ask them if their plastic pond liners will last anywhere near as long as a pond sealed in clay.
We have helped Do It Yourself natural swimming pond builders all over North America acheive their goals of cost effectively swimming in a very natural setting. The thought we stress with the handyman / DIY client is value and investment. There are people and books that attempt to help create an "inexpensive" natural pond / pool that are neither very attractive nor very clean. This is especially true when it comes to real estate value and the investment made in landscaping. The question becomes, which is the better investment - spending perhaps 20 percent more for a pond that will increase your property value five-fold or even more over what you spent on the pond? Or do you save a bit of building expense in a pond that will be worth significantly less than the cost of pond construction and provide the owner with much less emotional aesthetic value ? One more note is required here. The "inexpensive" designs use expensive materials and methods such as plastic pond seals and block walls. Neither of these are needed nor preferred in creating attractive natural landscape features. The hidden cost of building over a delicate rubber or plastic liner is realized in extra time, effort and materials to protect the seal.
Take the time to peruse our site. See if we can sharpen your perception of what a pond or lake can be and what natural pond and lake designs may offer.
We look forward to discussing the possibilities of bringing your water to life!
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Spring Creek Aquatic Concepts
Lake Placid, NY Portland, OR Bend, OR
(971) 266 4669