How to Add a Watercourse to your Pond

Dreaming of a pond with a bubbling stream that flows over rocks and pebbles, creating the perfect relaxing melody? Watercourses make a pond more natural and alive. The oasis expands and transforms into a peaceful habitat that attracts wildlife. A watercourse doesn't have to be expensive. You can make a DIY stream using smartpond products that will revitalize your pond and make it look natural.

Watercourses are often added for aesthetic purposes. They're relaxing and make a pond more dynamic. Streams add angles, depth, and mystery. You can't see the inner workings of the stream, so it appears to be powered by magic.

Watercourses also have some other benefits for your pond. Streams help oxygenate the water. Water from the pond is passed through the waterfall and oxygenates as it flows along the rocks. Debris and other organic waste get stuck to the rocks and gravel, so less makes its way into the pond. You can also add plants along the stream to help filter out nutrients.

Follow these steps to add a watercourse to your pond:

Step 1: Put Your Dreams on Paper

Planning is the first step in adding a watercourse to your pond. Streams can be as complex or simple as you want, but you need to have your idea mapped out before you start digging.

Waterfall

Most watercourses start with a beautiful waterfall that pours water into the stream. The waterfall can be dramatic and set high or a lower, more natural-looking spillway waterfall. It all depends on your vision, you get to be as creative as you want. The water will flow from the pond through the tubing into the waterfall. It's easy to start your watercourse with a pre-made spillway.

Pump

The distance from the bottom of the pond to the waterfall is called the lift or pumping height. The larger this distance is, the stronger the pump needs to be. If you're in between pump sizes, you can get a stronger pump and then just use the adjustable flow control feature to reduce the water flow if needed. Learn more about choosing the right pump.

Water Flow

How do you picture your new stream? You can choose many different designs, from a simple straight line to a winding stream. The length of the stream will also affect the pump strength needed. If your pump is not strong enough, the stream will be more of a trickle. If your pump is too strong, the water will splash outside of the stream and onto the area around it unless you have adjustable flow control.

Decor

Do you want your stream carved into the grass or lined by plants and rocks? Rocks will help hold the plant liner down and keep it in place. Decide whether you want the rocks to be the main focus, with water flowing over the rocks or a deeper stream with rocks at the bottom. How deep your stream is will determine how much water you see passing over the rocks.

Design

You have two main choices when creating the foundation of your pond. You can build it like a slide, where the water flows from the top to the bottom on a gentle decline. The other choice is to create steps and ledges, so you have mini waterfalls along the way.

A dramatic slope is unnecessary; you only need a 2" drop for every 10 ft of the stream. The width doesn't have to be perfect. If you want your pond to look more organic, use different widths to give the illusion that natural erosion created the stream.

Step 2: Gather Your Materials

Step 3: Start Digging

One of the most challenging parts of a DIY watercourse is digging it! You want the stream to be deep enough so that you can add the liner and the rocks to hold it down, while leaving enough room for the water to move without overflowing.

The area you dig in the ground will look bigger than the finished piece once the rocks and plants are added. When you dig your stream, make it a little wider and deeper than what you pictured for your final product.

If your ground is too hard to dig into or you want a less permanent watercourse, you can build the stream above ground using rocks and pond liners.

Step 4: Connect the Tubing

When digging the stream, you will need to leave room on either side for the tubing. The waterfall pump should be located at the pond, and you can run tubing from the pump along the stream and up to the waterfall. You want to disguise the tubing, but also keep it accessible in case of any issues.

Step 5: Line the Stream

A liner prevents the water from seeping through the ground and evaporating. If your stream splashes too much or has a hole in the liner, you'll notice a drop in water levels, which can hurt your pond life.

The liner should be placed once the stream is dug and leveled out. Remove any sharp rocks or edges before adding the liner to prevent punctures. The liner should be bigger than the stream, leaving at least 12 in. overhang on each side to prevent slipping. You will anchor the liner and conceal it with plants and rocks. The rocks are essential for holding the liner down.

If you're building an above-ground stream, first, you must create the slope with flat rocks, place the liner on top, and then hold it down with more rocks.

Step 6: Decorate

You can start decorating once you've added your liner and kept it in place with rocks. You can choose to have large rocks, small pebbles, or sand in your stream. It depends on the overall style of your yard, garden, and pond. You can add plants in and around the stream and mix the different rock shapes, styles, and colors to create the watercourse of your dreams. Add pond lights for a little extra magic if you want your stream to light up at night.

Adding a watercourse to your pond can give it a whole new design and feel without doing a complete makeover. Streams are energizing and lively. Your pond is instantly transformed into an even more relaxing environment. A stream extends the pond into more of the yard, creating a space that is uniquely yours. You don't need to go on a hike to find a magical oasis; you'll have one in your own backyard.