Custom Pond Construction and Renovation in Des Moines and Central Iowa

Along with lined backyard ecosystem ponds, Just Add Water builds and cares for larger ponds, including natural earth-bottom ponds. If you knew our old dirt bottom ponds page, it now lives here, because the same team handles the full range.

Large and dirt bottom ponds suit acreages, farms, and rural properties around Ames, Indianola, and the surrounding communities. These projects start with a site visit, because soil, slope, and the water source decide what is possible. From there we shape the pond, manage inflow and overflow, and can add aeration, planted edges, and beach areas. If swimming is the goal, take a look at our recreational ponds built for exactly that.

A finished pond is more than a hole with water in it. Every build starts with excavation shaped to the design, with shelves for plants and a depth that suits Iowa winters. Underlayment and a quality liner go down next, then boulders and gravel that lock everything together and give the pond its natural look.

From there we build the waterfall and stream that give the pond its sound and movement, and install the filtration and circulation that keep the water healthy: a skimmer to pull debris off the surface and a biological filter where beneficial bacteria do their work. Aquatic plants finish the ecosystem, softening the edges and balancing the water. Many owners add underwater lighting so the pond glows after dark, and an auto-fill system so the water level takes care of itself. You choose the features, and we price them clearly before work begins.

Most backyard ponds come together in a matter of days once we break ground. Larger ponds with long streams take longer, and weather always has a say in an Iowa spring. After your on-site consultation you get a clear quote and a realistic timeline, and we keep you updated from excavation day to the first time you turn the waterfall on.

Every project follows the same careful path from first conversation to final walkthrough. You can read the full step-by-step on our process page. Spring and summer fill up quickly in Central Iowa, so reaching out early is the best way to get on the schedule.

In Polk City, the Tranquil Backyard Escape turned an ordinary yard into a complete ecosystem pond with a waterfall, stream, and lush plantings the family now gathers around every evening.

In Ankeny, Bringing Colorado to Iowa recreated the feel of a mountain stream, with tumbling water, big character boulders, and lighting that carries the scene into the night. Both projects started with the same on-site consultation we offer every homeowner in Des Moines and the surrounding communities.