A re-circulating stream feeding a 25-foot pond.
An older couple in the Richmond village area had a 1.5-acre back yard with a natural depression that filled and drained seasonally. They wanted to convert this into a permanent pond and stream feature that would look like it had always belonged on the site, with hidden plumbing and native plant edges.
— The brief
What the clients wanted.
An older couple in the Richmond village area had a 1.5-acre back yard with a natural depression that filled and drained seasonally. They wanted to convert this into a permanent pond and stream feature that would look like it had always belonged on the site, with hidden plumbing and native plant edges.
The challenge.
The natural depression suggested the pond’s location, but the source of the stream needed believable origin — water can’t just appear. We designed a hidden upslope reservoir, fed by a re-circulating pump, that reads as if it’s a spring emerging from a stone outcrop.
— Project specs
— What we built
Project elements.
60-foot meandering stream with three cascade drops, sound-tuned during construction. Hidden 800-gallon source reservoir buried upslope. 25-ft naturalistic pond at terminus, depth-graded from 6″ shallow shore to 42″ deep zone for fish overwintering. Concealed EPDM liner with stone-grade transition. Native plant margin (iris, sedge, marsh marigold, swamp milkweed). Single cedar footbridge at the stream’s narrowest point. Cedar bench overlooking the pond from a small bluestone landing.
Stone
Local schist boulders
Timber
Cedar bridge + bench
Location
Richmond, VT
Year
2024
Duration
9 months
Scope
Water feature + Hardscape + Plantings
— How it came together
The Cairn & Cedar Method, this project.
Same Method as every project — site visit, design, quote, build.
Site visit
Two-hour walk with the architect. Light, slope, drainage, microclimate measured. We listen, you talk.
Design
Hand-drawn schematic, then full construction documents. Material specs, sections, footing detail.
Quote
Fixed-price proposal, line-itemed by trade. You see the math. Change orders signed before any change.
Build
Our in-house crew on site every working day. Architect at every milestone. Punch list closed before final invoice.
— The outcome
What happened after we finished.
— Project notes
Worth knowing about this project.
What was unique about this site?
The natural depression suggested the pond’s location, but the source of the stream needed believable origin — water can’t just appear. We designed a hidden upslope reservoir, fed by a re-circulating pump, that reads as if it’s a spring emerging from a stone outcrop.
What materials were specified?
Stone: Local schist boulders. Timber: Cedar bridge + bench. All sourced within 60 miles of the project.
How long did construction take?
9 months from first site visit to final cleanup. Construction phase varied based on the integrated disciplines.
What was the disciplines mix?
Water feature + Hardscape + Plantings
What’s the outcome two seasons later?
The pond is now home to 8 native shiners and 2 koi. Pollinator activity at the marginal plantings is constant April through October. The clients report sitting at the cedar bench for ‘an hour or two’ most evenings — the highest praise we get from clients.
Can we visit the project?
Some projects we can arrange property tours by appointment, with the owner’s permission. Ask during the site visit if a similar property is available to walk.