ponds

A pond is a small body of standing freshwater, typically smaller and shallower than a lake. Ponds may be natural or artificial and vary in size from a few square meters to several hectares. In many ponds, sunlight reaches the bottom across large areas, enabling rooted aquatic plants to grow; this is less common in larger lakes.

Ponds form through natural processes such as glacial activity, sedimentation, or spring and groundwater activity, and they are also created by humans for irrigation, water storage, ornament, or flood control. Common pond types include ornamental ponds, farm or drainage ponds, and retention or detention basins for stormwater management.

Ponds support diverse communities—algae, aquatic plants, invertebrates, amphibians, fish, birds. They are important breeding habitats for many frogs and salamanders. Because many ponds are shallow, they typically mix from top to bottom during the year, and water quality can change quickly with temperature and biological activity.

Hydrology involves inputs such as rain, groundwater, and inflows; outputs include evaporation, seepage, and withdrawals. Maintenance may include dredging, weed control, aeration, and protecting surrounding vegetation to reduce sediment input and nutrient loading.

Ponds serve for recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, wildlife habitat, irrigation, and water storage. They face pressures from siltation, nutrient pollution leading to eutrophication, invasive species, and development. Restoration strategies include buffer zones, sediment control, and habitat enhancement.