Rick Bartel, a thirty-year veteran, best-selling author and Certified Master Water Feature Specialist, is most known throughout the industry for his popular R.I.S.E. Method of naturalistic design. Credited with more than 1,800 national and international awards and recognitions for his phenomenal work, including the 2009 and 2010 Water Feature Contractor of the Year award, Rick was the 2011 Master of Design recipient and in 2012 was named the industry's most sought-after guest speaker and one of the most influential people in our industry.

Rock and Boulder Pond Design | Don’t Put That There!

By Rick Bartel / July 1, 2013 / 3 Comments

To the average pond lover, rocks are the most straightforward part of any water feature. But not all rocks are the same, and choosing the right one can make or break the look of your pond. Rick Bartel explains how to pick the right rocks for your project and how to place them for optimal results.

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Establishing Contractual Guidelines

By Rick Bartel / September 1, 2011 / 0 Comments

A contract can make or break your business, so be sure to have a good one. Rick Bartel shares some guidelines that he has gleaned during his 20 years of experience as a veteran water feature contractor. Since there are some things you just can’t control like the weather, learn how to address this kind of issue and others that can affect your ability to get the work done and fairly paid for.

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Sound – Adding Audible Dimensions

By Rick Bartel / July 1, 2011 / 0 Comments

When designing a waterfall be sure to take advantage of the knowledge shared here from an excerpt of the book “The R.I.S.E. Method.” Learn the acoustic characteristics of the pond & waterfall and how it affects the audible dimensions of the falling water. Learn the importance of how the water moves, the distance the water falls, the depth of the pool the water falls into and many other critical factors. After all, the sound of falling water is a key motivating factor for pond buyers. Learn the language and techniques of waterfall acoustic design.

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Rocking the Boat, are Rocks the Problem?

By Rick Bartel / September 1, 2010 / 0 Comments

Are rocks or inadequate filtration the real culprit? Twenty-year veteran water feature contractor Rick Bartel, tries to answer the “rock on the bottom” controversy once and for all. Includes several actual ponds, their dimensions and pond specifics. This provocative article introduces his theory about “rocks” and good pond design.

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Water and Wildlife

By Rick Bartel / November 16, 2008 / 0 Comments

Ponds and water features are magnificently
magnetic. Learn what the ‘Wildlife Habitat
Program’ organized by the National Wildlife
Federation is and why you need to know about it?

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