Pond bank renourishment is similar in principle to beach renourishment. The goal of renourishment efforts is to combat erosion along the bank or shore of a body of water by replacing soils or sands that have washed away. Many factors contribute to erosion in your pond, such as water movement, storms and weather events or sometimes activities of area wildlife. During the erosion process, the soil or shore material is loosened and sinks into the water, leaving less and less space along the edge of the pond.

Renourishment replaces the eroded soil along the banks or shore of your pond to combat erosion. The key factors to successful renourishment are knowing where the original shoreline was before erosion began the process of washing it away, and using renourishment material that is consistent with the existing material remaining on the pond bank and the material that has eroded. Using soils or sands that are significantly different in composition or grain size are more likely to wash away and erode quickly as opposed to anchoring to the existing material to refortify the pond bank.

While renourishment does combat erosion by replacing soils back to original levels, it is often a process that will need to be repeated over time to maintain the shoreline or bank of the pond. Renourishment can become very expensive depending on where the replacement soil is sourced from and the extent of renourishment required to restore the bank or shoreline. Sudden changes to the shoreline through renourishment efforts can negatively impact animals and wildlife in or living along the pond. Renourishment can also bury and kill plants, often creating “dead zones” in your pond if the renourishment is not performed carefully.

While renourishment can restore your pond banks or shoreline, preventing erosion through other means is generally a better option for your pond. Using strategic pond planting along the shoreline of your pond is one of many ways to combat erosion while also improving the ecosystem of your pond. Your pond management specialists can recommend erosion prevention options that are appropriate for your pond.