Best Mature Pond 

Award Description

The Best Mature Pond Award recognizes an exceptional pond or water feature that has grown more beautiful, cohesive, and successful with time. While newly completed projects often showcase craftsmanship and design intent, the true success of a pond can only be fully understood after plants establish, landscapes mature, aquatic life develops, and the feature begins to function as part of its surrounding environment.

This category celebrates projects that demonstrate the lasting value of thoughtful design, quality materials, skilled construction, and responsible long-term stewardship. Judges will consider how successfully the original vision has developed over time, how well the feature has endured, and whether the pond continues to provide beauty, function, ecological value, and enjoyment years after its completion.

The strongest entries will show more than simple plant growth. They will demonstrate how the pond, landscape, aquatic ecosystem, and built environment have evolved into a balanced and unified setting that may not have been fully visible when the project was first completed.

Projects previously entered in the Water Artisans of the Year Awards are eligible for consideration in this category.

Eligibility Requirements

• The project must be a completed pond or water feature that has had sufficient time to demonstrate meaningful maturation.
• Projects should generally be at least three years old at the time of entry.
• Projects previously submitted to or recognized by the awards program are eligible.
• Residential, commercial, public, and institutional projects may be entered.
• There is no minimum or maximum project size.
• The submitting company should have been involved in the original design or construction of the project.
• Renovations and enhancements are permitted, but they must be clearly disclosed in the submission.
• Routine maintenance, plant management, equipment replacement, and fish care will not disqualify a project.

Projects that have undergone a complete reconstruction should be entered based on the date of the most recent major construction.

 

Submission Materials

Each entry should include:

Original Completion Photographs

Provide photographs taken shortly after the initial construction was completed. These images should clearly document the pond’s original design, planting, hardscape, water features, and surrounding landscape.

Current Photographs

Provide recent photographs showing the pond in its present, matured condition. Current images should demonstrate how the feature, planting, ecosystem, and surrounding landscape have developed over time.

Project Narrative

Submit a brief written description that includes:

• Project completion date
• Amount of time elapsed since completion
• Original client goals and design objectives
• Description of the property and surrounding environment
• Major design or construction considerations
• Notable changes in planting, fish population, water quality, landscape integration, or ecosystem development
• Maintenance practices that contributed to the pond’s long-term success
• Any repairs, renovations, equipment upgrades, or design enhancements completed since the original installation
• An explanation of how the project has fulfilled or exceeded its original vision

Before-and-After Comparisons

Whenever possible, include photographs taken from the same or similar viewpoints at the time of completion and in the pond’s current condition. Clearly label each image with the approximate date it was taken.

Photography Recommendations

Photography should make it easy for judges to understand the project’s progression. Entrants are encouraged to include:

• Matching original and current views from similar angles
• Wide-angle photographs showing the entire pond and surrounding landscape
• Close-up images of mature aquatic and terrestrial plantings
• Photographs of waterfalls, streams, edging, stonework, and transitions
• Images demonstrating water clarity, fish health, and overall pond condition
• Photographs showing how the pond relates to nearby architecture, patios, walkways, gardens, or natural areas
• Seasonal photographs, when available, illustrating year-round interest
• Detail images showing how construction materials and craftsmanship have endured

Current photographs should accurately represent the pond’s condition and should not rely on excessive digital editing or artificial enhancement.

Best Matured Ponds Judging Rubric

Guiding Question for Judges

How successfully has this pond matured into a beautiful, healthy, cohesive, and enduring water feature that fulfills—and potentially exceeds—the original design vision?

Category	Points	What Judges Look For
Long-Term Visual Impact	20	The pond’s overall beauty, presence, character, and visual appeal in its matured condition. Judges should consider whether the project has become more compelling, cohesive, and distinctive with age.
Landscape & Plant Development	20	The successful establishment of aquatic and surrounding plantings, appropriate scale and balance, seasonal interest, naturalization, and integration with the broader landscape. Plant growth should enhance the design without overwhelming its structure or intended function.
Ecosystem Health & Stewardship	20	Evidence of healthy water quality, thriving fish and aquatic life, balanced plant growth, effective filtration and circulation, and responsible long-term care. Judges should consider whether the pond functions as a stable and sustainable living ecosystem.
Enduring Craftsmanship & Materials	20	How well the original construction, stonework, edging, liner concealment, structures, finishes, and other design details have endured. Materials should age appropriately, and the feature should retain its structural integrity and quality.
Transformation & Fulfillment of Vision	20	The degree of positive development demonstrated between the original and current conditions. Judges should consider whether the project’s maturation supports the original goals and whether time has strengthened the relationship among the water, landscape, architecture, and user experience.

Total: 100 Points

Additional Considerations for Judges

Judges should consider:

• Has the pond become more beautiful, established, and cohesive with age?
• Does the current condition reflect thoughtful long-term planning?
• Have the aquatic plants, surrounding landscape, fish, and built elements matured into a unified environment?
• Has the original craftsmanship remained visible and structurally sound?
• Do the selected materials continue to perform well and complement the matured setting?
• Does the pond appear healthy, balanced, and appropriately maintained?
• Has plant growth enhanced the design without obscuring important features or compromising function?
• Do the original and current photographs clearly demonstrate meaningful, positive evolution?
• Were repairs, replacements, or enhancements handled in a way that preserved or strengthened the original design?
• Does the project continue to fulfill the needs of the client, property, and surrounding environment?
• Is the pond’s success the result of enduring design and construction rather than appearance alone?
• Does the project demonstrate how skilled water artisanship can create value and enjoyment that continue to grow over time?

Important Judging Distinction

This category is not intended to reward a pond simply because it is old or heavily planted. Age alone does not demonstrate success. Judges should look for a project in which thoughtful design, enduring craftsmanship, healthy development, and continued stewardship have allowed the water feature to improve meaningfully over time.

A successful matured pond should feel established rather than overgrown, natural rather than neglected, and enduring rather than merely unchanged.

Award Intent

Some water features cannot be fully appreciated during the season in which they are completed. Their greatest qualities emerge gradually as plants soften constructed edges, trees and shrubs create scale, aquatic life becomes established, and the pond develops a stronger relationship with its surroundings.

The Best Matured Pond Award honors these projects—and the artisans behind them—for creating water features whose beauty, performance, and value are strengthened by time.