1. TYPES AND FEATURES OF EARTHEN POND
BY
OLADAPO HAMMED
INTRODUCTION
Earthen ponds are natural earthen reservoirs, which is
often created by excavation and/or damming up a natural
soil , sometimes with the addition of clay or artificial
membrane liner. Earthen pond is a type of habitat in
Aquaculture. Aquaculture is the propagation and rearing
of aquatic organisms such as Fish, Crab and other water
dwelling animals and aquatic plants in a controlled or a
semi controlled environment.
Earthen pond is the worlds most capital investment in
aquaculture
TYPE OF EARTHEN POND
There are three main types of Earthen Pond, Namely
 SUNKEN POND
 BARRAGE POND
 DIVERSION POND
SUNKEN POND
The Sunken Pond is usually built from an existing hollow
or depression in the ground with support of an additional
embankment/ dyke to increase the depth. The main
source of water for sunken ponds is majorly from
groundwater, rainfalls and surface runoffs, it is rarely
supported by pumping.
As the floor of the Sunken Pond is below the level of the
surrounding land this makes the pond undrainable or
partially drainable.
BARRAGE POND
The Barrage Pond is a drainable type of pond, it is usually
built by making a dam at the end of a valley. This could be
built as a single or series across the end of the valley.
The main source of water that feeds barrage pond is
directly from nearby stream, reservoir or spring.
The intake and level of water in this kind of pond is usually
controlled by a point on the pond called inlet. The inlet
controls the amount of water that is allowed into the
pond, and excess water is let out through another point
called outlet.
Diversion Canal is usually built on one side of barrage
pond to divert excess water from the flood or main source
of water supply ( stream, reservoir or spring ). A spillway is
also built on the pond to protect the dyke.
DIVERSION POND
Diversion Pond could be built either as a four-dyke
embankment pond on a flat ground or on a sloping ground
as a cut-and-fill pond.
It is a drainable pond which is usually drain through a
drainage canal.
Diversion canal is the main source of water that fed the
diversion pond. The water from the diversion canal is either
pumped into the pond or been fed by the gravity of the
water.
Like the barrage pond, diversion pond’s water intake, water
flow and water level is also controlled through the inlet and
the outlet point on each of the pond.
Diversion pond is easy to maintain because it could be
completely drained.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.fao.org
http://www.unaab.ng
www.kvkphek.nic.in
agropedia.iitk.ac.in