The Beginning
This pondless waterfall project in Moraga, California started like many others—our client reached out wanting to build a large, steep waterfall in their front yard. From the beginning, they had a clear vision to create something unique with a semi-Japanese style.
As they moved forward with redoing their front yard landscaping, they intentionally left space to accommodate the pondless waterfall. However, they soon realized the scope and complexity The project’s scale and technical requirements called for a contractor specializing in large water features..
That’s when they brought us in to properly design and build the feature, ensuring it not only matched their vision but also performed reliably long-term.
The Challenge
How We Built the Moraga Pondless Waterfall.
One of the biggest challenges for this pondless waterfall in Moraga, California was limited access due to existing retaining walls from the ongoing front yard renovation. We adapted by building the project in two phases and using a properly sized excavator to move materials efficiently.
This approach gave us the opportunity to use larger boulders, enhancing the scale and natural feel of the waterfall. We imported specialty boulders from Missouri and combined them with local stone to create a distinctive, cohesive water feature.
Our solution
Challenges are part of the process—we have the knowledge to solve them.
- 40 tons of natural boulders
This pondless waterfall project included roughly 40 tons of boulders, ranging from 8 inches to 4 feet in size. Using a wide range of stone sizes allowed us to achieve a more natural, balanced design with proper scale and long-term stability.
- 1000 gallons underground reservoir
On large-scale pondless waterfalls, proper sizing is key to avoiding issues. For this project, we designed a 1,000-gallon reservoir using 33 large Aquascape AquaBlox to ensure the system holds enough water to maintain strong, consistent flow and long-term reliability.
- 2 SLD Pumps
Correct sizing was key to achieving the scale and visual appeal of this pondless waterfall. We used two Aquascape SLD 9000 pumps, allowing the system to run one or both depending on the desired flow. Combined, they deliver around 14,000 GPH, ensuring powerful performance and adaptability.
- Dedicated Water Lily area
As a special touch, our client wanted a small dedicated area for two water lily plants she had been saving specifically for this project. We incorporated a subtle planting pocket into the design, giving these lilies a place to thrive while adding a softer, natural element to the water feature.
