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46 <br /> Ponds can severely disturb the sensitive ecology of headwater streams. Water can heat up rapidly <br /> in the summer and increase downstream water temperature. This can be mitigated somewhat by <br /> including a bottom water release, over-sizing the pond, and providing shading near the <br /> perimeter. <br /> Inspections and Maintenance of the Completed Structure <br /> Inspections <br /> The pond must be inspected at least once a year by the owner or their agent. If the owner or <br /> homeowner's association is not capable or qualified, a qualified professional, preferably the <br /> designer, should be retained to perform the inspections. Responsibility is the owner's even <br /> though County personnel will perform periodic inspections to ensure continued compliance and <br /> performance. <br /> Inspection should look for: <br /> embankment subsidence; <br /> erosion of slopes or spillway; <br /> cracking of the embankment; <br /> growth of undesirable vegetation; <br /> condition of riser, barrel, and other pipes, <br /> seepage below or through dam (often indicated by wet soil below the dam); <br /> sediment accumulation, <br /> clogging of inlets to pipes; and <br /> condition of upstream and downstream channel protection. <br /> Those inspecting the pond show use as built plans. Where problems are discovered corrective <br /> action should be initiated by the owner and not put off for County staff to discover. <br /> Maintenance <br /> Routine maintenance should include: <br /> mowing grass; <br /> fertilizing grass and reseeding areas where vegetation may have failed, particularly on <br /> the dam and the emergency spillway; <br /> removal of undesirable vegetation; <br /> removal of trash and other debris that could clog the outlet structure; <br /> removal of floating debris from the trash guard around the pipe inlet; <br /> Dedication of land and Responsibility for Maintenance <br /> Dedication <br /> Responsibility of owner or owners. may be homeowners association but this can always be <br /> dissolved so plat and agreement (deeds) must state that it belongs to the owners. <br /> DRAFT 11 June 1993 <br />