In addition to meeting applicable design requirements established in Env-Wt 300, the following design requirements shall apply to a pond construction project:

1. (a) Wildlife ponds shall be designed to support wildlife and meet the criteria in Env-Wt 519.06;

2. (b) Fire ponds shall be designed to provide fire protection and include the following:

   1. (1) A letter from the municipal fire chief stating the justification for the fire pond;
   2. (2) The location of the dry hydrant;
   3. (3) Access for dry hydrant connection intake use and maintenance;
   4. (4) The location and access point for pond maintenance; and
   5. (5) How the design will meet the fire protection goals;

3. (c) Agriculture ponds shall be designed to provide water for livestock, irrigate crops, or raise fish for commercial sale and include the following:

   1. (1) How the design meets the criteria for minimum impact agriculture projects in Env-Wt 522.06(a); and
   2. (2) Whether the pond is located within a wet meadow wetland;

4. (d) Fish ponds shall be designed to:

   1. (1) Support native fish populations;
   2. (2) Contain deep areas with a minimum of 8 to 10 feet in at least 25% to 50% of the pond area;
   3. (3) For ponds supporting cold water species such as trout, maintain cool water temperatures year round and may require more than 10 feet of water depth; and
   4. (4) Comply with NHF&G stocking rules;
5. (e) Residential, commercial, and industrial ponds shall be designed based on proposed purpose and be reviewed holistically with the criteria in Env-Wt 524;
6. (f) Pond inlets and outlets shall be sited and stabilized to prevent adverse impacts to adjacent wetlands and surface waters;
7. (g) Impoundments shall be designed to avoid impacts to surface elevation; and
8. (h) All ponds shall be designed to protect water quality in accordance with Env-Wt 307.

Source. #12805, eff 12-15-19; amd by #13124, eff 10-23-20