Grow Native Pond Guide

Swann, Don

Attractive and comforting as they are, backyard ponds in the desert Southwest pose an environmental problem. They use precious water - up to 5000 gallons per year. More importantly, backyard ponds appear to be contributing to the growing problem of introducing non-native, invasive animals and plants to Arizona's rare remaining natural wetlands. Invasive American bullfrogs, plants such as common cattails and fountain grass, and even exotic fish such as mosquito fish can migrate from ponds during rainy periods and end up in natural, spring-fed pools in our national parks, national forests, and other preserves. Once established, the most invasive of these species displace natives.