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summer 2001 : living

photo courtesy Alpine Aquatics

Water Gardens
in the High Desert

by Tina Cole

Water is essential for all life. We, in fact, consist mostly of water and it has been medically proven to be soothing to the psyche. It is no wonder we are drawn to it.

photo by Fred Lindholm.  courtesy Webb Landscape, Inc.Natural waterscapes are the first choice of those seeking the calming effects of this liquid, and the mountainous, high desert landscape of Sun Valley and the surrounding Wood River Valley abound with sites to enjoy a summer day at water’s edge.

Some residents need only step out on their patios to reap the benefits of the rushing Big Wood River or its tributaries. However, waterfront homes along the Big Wood and other watercourses have become increasingly cost prohibitive and difficult to find.

How then, can people living in a semi arid, high desert region, flanked by snow covered mountains, realistically accomplish an aquatic setting in their personal landscapes without spending fortunes and wreaking havoc on the natural surroundings?

In the past five years, a remarkable surge in aquatic gardening techniques has made creation of small streams, fountains and ponds affordable and adaptable to many environs.

Installing a pond or water feature is something that cannot be learned simply from a “how-to” book. It is an undertaking that should be carefully researched, planned and executed. Oddly enough, many individuals initially site a pond away from their building envelope where it cannot be heard, seen or appreciated on a constant basis. In many of these instances, the water system is out of sight and out of mind and not well maintained. Decorative ponds, fountains and streams should be part of a living space and not neglected.

photo by Fred Lindholm.  courtesy Webb Landscape, Inc.Before turning any soil, a homeowner must assess exactly what the goal is and at what price, then commit to maintaining the moving water or flat, reflective pond worked into the landscape.

In this area, ponds can be an enjoyable addition to a garden but must be dealt with properly during the winter months when water can be difficult to recirculate and keep clean. Some local small-pond owners use livestock tank heaters to keep areas of water open and moving for fish and dormant aquatic plants. Keeping a pond clean is crucial for its longevity and health. Bacterial filters, proper oxygenation of the water, naturalization of surrounding plant matter and skimming of debris all help to keep a foul-smelling swamp from developing.

Kevin Lenane, who has 17 years of experience in aquaculture and other related environmental disciplines, works with landscape architects in phasing, siting, planting, constructing and maintaining aquatic gardens and environments. 

“To me it makes more sense to spend money on the outside of your home where everyone can see it and enjoy it,” says Lenane. “Your landscaping is a reflection of who you are.”

With the cost of creating a waterscape ringing in at about the same price as a similar-sized deck or patio, it’s well worth a homeowner’s time to consult with a nursery or professional landscaper before beginning to dig.

photo courtesy Gail Severn GalleryProper planning, construction and maintenance are crucial to protect this investment. It is not necessary to dig to China when excavating a pond. Many are merely 24 inches deep. The bottom of the pond is covered with a special liner with a life span of 40 years. A pond measuring 16 feet by eight feet, might require as much as five tons of rock in layers along the liner and sides for a natural, sloped effect. Jute netting is needed for erosion control along the edges to keep the soil in place. Special bog soils are laid down and planted with specific marginal plant species. Then good topsoils are spread to establish the surrounding wetland areas and plants.

Elaborate, large-scale water gardens go against the norms of the traditional, dry, south-central Idaho landscape. 
Improperly sited and maintained ponds have given ponds a bad connotation in many communities, according to local landscape architect Kurt Eggers. Water features need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with the specific property and architecture in mind.

Small courtyard ponds and fountains are definitely a more feasible, maintainable and more cost-effective option for smaller land parcel owners.

Features that are already on hand, such as hot tubs and Jacuzzis, can be designed in a more natural setting that incorporates water into an everyday living environment, economically as well as aesthetically.

Look around the lot. It may be possible to save a natural wetlands. Putting a wetland area under a mass of pond water is not considered good stewardship, says Kelly Weston, another local landscape architect.

photo courtesy Barbi ReedSmaller ponds that recirculate the water and are well maintained create habitat for birds and other forms of wildlife. But maintenance is crucial. 

Pond owners who make the commitment can get their yards certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a national wildlife habitat if they provide four necessities for sustaining wildlife: food, water, cover and accessible shelter where young animals can be raised. Contact the National Wildlife Federation online at www.nwf.org for more information on the “Backyard Habitat Wildlife Program.” 

Whatever one’s aquatic gardening plans might happen to be, it is good to keep in mind an old Western saying, “Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting over.”