Fountainscapes and Pondless Water Features in Central Iowa

A pondless feature gives you the look and sound of moving water with no standing water at all. The water tumbles over the rocks and drains into an underground basin, so there is no open pond for leaves to collect in and much less to maintain. With no open water, pondless features are also a safe choice for families with young kids and for homes with pets.

A full ecosystem pond is a different experience. It has open water, aquatic plants, and room for wildlife, and it becomes a living centerpiece you can sit beside. It takes more space and a little more care, but many homeowners love it. If that sounds like you, explore our custom ponds. Not sure which fits? We walk through both options during your on-site consultation.

They can. Because the water lives in an underground basin, a pondless waterfall is one of the easiest features to run through a Central Iowa winter. Many homeowners keep theirs going and enjoy the ice sculptures that form along the falls. Running it in cold weather does take some care: keep the basin topped off, since ice and evaporation can pull the level down, and watch for ice dams that divert water out of the stream.

If you would rather take the winter off, we can shut the feature down in late fall and start it back up in the spring. Fountains with urns and bowls are usually shut down and drained so the vessels are protected from freezing. We will recommend the right approach for your feature and walk you through it.

Less than you might think. A single urn, bowl, basalt column, or bubbling rock needs an area of about 4 by 4 feet, which makes a fountain a great fit for small yards, patios, courtyards, and front entries in Des Moines, Ames, and Indianola. A pondless waterfall needs a bit more room, starting at about 6 by 6 feet, and a stream can stretch as far as your yard allows.

A gentle slope is a bonus for a stream or waterfall, but it is not required. We can build up grade with boulders to create height on a flat lot. Placement matters too, so we consider views from the house and patio, access to power, and where you like to sit.

In Ankeny, the Ankeny Award-Winning Pondless Waterfall began as a pondless feature we renovated for a family who loved it so much they asked us to extend it up the hillside. We carried the stream up the slope, matched the original stone, increased the flow, and added color-changing spotlights so the falls glow at night. The finished waterfall became one of our award-winning builds and shows how far a pondless feature can go.