What Advice Does the Washington Koi & Water Garden Society Give Before Building a Koi Pond?

Updated

The Washington Koi & Water Garden Society (WK & WGS) gives one clear piece of advice to anyone thinking about building a koi pond: join a koi club such as theirs and gather as much information as possible before taking that first shovelful of dirt. The club's reasoning is that pond construction involves many decisions—filtration, water quality, fish health, and plant care among them—and learning from experienced keepers beforehand is easier than correcting mistakes after the pond is built.

Why the Club Recommends Joining Before You Dig

WK & WGS describes itself as a non-profit hobbyist organization of koi keepers and water garden fanciers who share ideas and help one another. That collective experience is the resource the club points new pond builders toward. Rather than relying on trial and error, prospective builders can draw on what members have already learned about:

  • Koi health
  • Pond construction
  • Koi varieties
  • Aquatic plants
  • Nutrition
  • Filtration
  • Water quality

These topics are covered in the club's educational programs during membership meetings, and members also receive a monthly newsletter with relevant articles.

What the Club Offers Beyond the Initial Build

The advice to join before digging is part of a broader pattern: WK & WGS is structured around ongoing learning and mutual help, not just one-time guidance.

Activity What it provides
Membership meetings Educational programs on koi and pond topics
Monthly newsletter Articles relevant to members
Zoom gatherings, pond tours, field trips, outdoor summer meetings Chances to see other ponds and talk with keepers
Koi Fest and past koi shows Larger community events (the club put on koi shows for 28 years before Covid)

The club is affiliated with the Pacific Northwest Koi Clubs Association and Koi Organisation International, and its Executive Board meets regularly to plan activities for members.

You Don't Need Koi—or Even a Pond—to Take Part

A related point from the club: it isn't necessary to have koi to enjoy ponds. WK & WGS notes that beautifully planted ponds, ponds with goldfish, or even pondless waterfalls provide pleasurable moments for members, even though the club's focus is on koi, which it calls its "living jewels." So someone still in the planning stage—or not yet sure they want fish at all—is not out of place.

A Concrete Example of How the Club Shares Knowledge

The club's upcoming "Sundaes on Sunday" event on August 23 at 2 p.m., hosted at Barb and Lee Sundgren's pond and garden, illustrates the format. Along with ice cream, attendees will learn about RDFs—Rotary Drum Filters—from Derek Boucher of Play It Koi, covering what they are, how they work, and why a keeper might want one. This is the kind of pre-build or upgrade question a new pond owner would otherwise have to research alone.

If You're Not a Member Yet

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