Do You Need Koi or a Pond to Join the Washington Koi & Water Garden Society?

No. The Washington Koi & Water Garden Society (WK & WGS) states directly that "it isn't necessary to have koi to enjoy ponds," and that beautifully planted ponds, ponds with goldfish, or even pondless waterfalls "provide pleasurable moments to WK & WGS members." The club's focus is koi — it calls them its "living jewels" — but it describes itself as open to water garden fanciers generally, not just koi keepers.

What the club says about who can take part

The organization describes itself as "a group of koi keepers and water garden fanciers." That phrasing matters: koi keeping is the shared interest, but it is not a membership requirement stated anywhere on the page.

The site makes three points that answer the "do I need a pond?" question:

• No koi required. The page explicitly says koi are not necessary to enjoy ponds.
• Alternatives count. Planted ponds, goldfish ponds, and pondless waterfalls are all named as sources of enjoyment for members.
• No pond at all is fine too. A pondless waterfall involves no standing pond, so the club's own examples include setups that aren't traditional koi ponds.

The club also frames itself broadly: "We are a koi community, and we are here to help."

What members actually do

If you're deciding whether to join, the activity list is the practical part. According to the site, members:

• Meet on Zoom, on pond tours, on field trips, and at summer outdoor meetings (including a past "Koi Fest")
• Receive a monthly newsletter with relevant articles
• Attend educational programs during membership meetings on topics including koi health, pond construction, koi varieties, aquatic plants, nutrition, filtration, and water quality
• Take part in activities planned by an Executive Board that meets regularly

Historically, the club put on koi shows for 28 years before the Covid outbreak. It is a non-profit hobbyist organization affiliated with the Pacific Northwest Koi Clubs Association and Koi Organisation International.

A concrete example of an upcoming event

The site lists "Sundaes on Sunday" on August 23 at 2 p.m. at Barb and Lee Sundgren's pond and garden. The program features Derek Boucher of Play It Koi speaking about RDFs — Rotary Drum Filters — covering what they are, how they work, and why someone might want one.

Two access details from the page are worth noting if you're not a member:

• Members are asked to RSVP so the hosts know how much ice cream and toppings to have.
• Non-members who want to attend can call 206-949-2402 and let Nancy Moore, Program Chair, know.

Directions to the Sundgren's are in the August newsletter for members.

The club's own advice if you're pond-curious

The site offers a direct recommendation: if you are "even thinking about constructing a koi pond," join a koi club such as this one and gather as much information as possible before "taking that first shovelful of dirt." That advice is aimed at people who don't yet have a pond — which reinforces that pond ownership isn't a prerequisite for membership.

Bottom line

You can join or take part without koi and without a pond. The club's stated focus is koi, but its own description of who enjoys ponds — planted ponds, goldfish ponds, pondless waterfalls — is broader than koi keeping alone. If you want to test it out before committing, the August 23 event is a low-pressure way to do so, with a phone number provided for non-members.