Core trenches in the baffle levees are not necessary. Baffle levees should be spaced 150 to 300 feet apart to facilitate water circulation. If the part of the baffle levees above the water line is not substantial enough, settling and erosion will cause the levees to breach in one or two years. They should extend a minimum of 6 inches above the expected water level for the pond. Interior or baffle levees are constructed to guide water through the pond for proper aeration and to help maintain proper water quality.Baffle levees are built about 6 feet wide at the base. Interior ditches are difficult to drain, and they may serve as a refuge for predatory fish after ponds are drained.Īlso Read: How do I start a crawfish farming business? This reduces the effective production area of the pond. Interior ditches reduce circulation, and areas away from the channel may be low in dissolved oxygen. Ponds with a steep elevation difference restrict water management techniques and reduce harvesting efficiency. Otherwise, the area should be levelled or divided into two or more ponds. The land should have no more than a 6-inch fall between perimeter levees. A levee system 3 feet high is adequate to contain the 8 to 12 inches of water necessary to cultivate crawfish. The minimum perimeter levee base should be 9 feet wide to prevent leakage from the burrowing activities of the crawfish. Perimeter levees should have a core trench cleared of debris to prevent water seepage. Generally, soils that can be rolled into a ball have enough clay for crawfish culture. A clay soil is necessary to hold water and to maintain the integrity of crawfish burrows because crawfish will die in burrows that collapse because of sandy soils. Clay loams, sandy clay loam and silty clay loams are satisfactory soil types.
Seek advice from your parish Extension Service agent and the Natural Resources Conservation Service engineer in your area.Ĭrawfish ponds should be located in flat, open areas, and the soils should have sufficient amounts of clay. Although management practices can be easily changed from year to year, trying to change ponds that were improperly constructed can be expensive.
Proper pond construction gives the crawfish farmer better control over flooding, drainage, forage management, water circulation and harvesting.
Location and pond design are the most important physical factors for successful crawfish production. > Click Here For A Complete A Guide To Raising Crawfish <<< How much does it cost to start a crawfish farm?
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