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Pond Management

Brooklyn Park has 15 to 20 public ponds and at least 252 private ponds.

Pond management

Public ponds

The City maintains the public storm water pipes and flared end sections on all ponds to ensure that water can enter and leave the storm water pond. Dredging is performed, when needed, provided we have adequate access and available personnel.

We treat public ponds once per year for algae, duck weed or water meal, if needed.

Private ponds

Ponds that are not on city property or in a park are usually considered private. The City only maintains the inlets and outlets. Residents can treat their pond or install a fountain, aerator or bubbler.

The City also dredges ponds provided we have adequate access and available personnel. You are encouraged to talk to our Streets Superintendent Mark Becker about what you are planning.

Phone and email

Mark Becker
763-493-8009
mark.becker@brooklynpark.org

Recommendations for private pond maintenance

  • Embrace the natural beauty!
  • Don’t mow all the way to the pond; leave a buffer of native grasses and plants along the shore. This can help with water fluctuation and also deters geese.
  • Limit fertilizers so they don’t run off into the pond.

Grass and weed exemptions in the code ordinance

This topic is covered in one of our ordinances: Chapter 97.20 C Exemptions. The following items are exempted from the grass and weed requirements in this chapter:

(1) The portion of any privately or publicly-owned lot or tract of land in the city that contains a ponding area, drainage way, or public water wholly or partially within its legal boundary

(a) The owner of the property described in (C)(1) may establish a strip of vegetation between the normal water level and the high water level along the ponding area, drainage way, or public water of not more than 20 feet. This strip of vegetation may be allowed to grow to any height and will not be declared a nuisance under this chapter. However, the owner of the property is required to control or eradicate noxious weeds. No grasses or weeds below the normal water level of the ponding area, drainage way or public water will be declared a nuisance under this chapter.

Fountains, aerators or bubblers

Fountains, aerators and bubblers are all allowed for private ponds. You will likely need to work with an electrical contractor and/or a company that specializes in these installations.

They can be expensive. For example, it could be thousands of dollars to run the wiring, plus the cost of the aeration system, timer and monthly electricity bill, which you and your neighbors would be responsible for.

Algae treatment

Treating algae is much less costly than installing a fountain or aerator. Treatment can cost $300 to $2,000 depending on the size of the pond and the necessary treatment. This is a temporary solution and must be repeated annually. However, some companies may have annual maintenance plans with more frequent treatments.

Neighborhood pond organizations

Some residents have organized their neighbors around a pond to pay for treatment and infrastructure. Some neighborhoods have formal pond associations with covenants and can put a lien on homes that do not pay dues. Others have informal pond associations where they send an invoice or go door to door to collect. There probably aren’t any that get 100 percent participation, but many are able to collect enough to treat and some have installed pumps/aerators. Dues range from $10 to $150 per year per household. Some ponds are subsidized by the homeowners association.

More information

DNR Restore your shore