My Pond Project

[ETD66SS]

I started work on the banks today.

I'm cutting down into the clay as far out as I can reach with my CAT 225. Then shape the banks with my D6C. I will then layer ~2' of clay down from where I hit the clay digging, all the way up to the rim of the basin.

I don't have a sheepsfoot roller, so hopefully driving on the clay with my dozer will pack it in place enough to avoid serious erosion if we get down pours.

I have lake laid clay, swells up a great deal when it gets wet, almost acts like betonite, so when it gets wet initially, it should hold to the banks pretty well I hope.

Here are some pics:

whitedwarf3's photos. Get free image hosting at ImageCave.com - free image hosting at ImageCave.com

[ETD66SS]

I spread clay along the banks of one section, then it rained. It held up well and did not wash down into the pond at all, good sign I guess.

whitedwarf3's photos. Get free image hosting at ImageCave.com - free image hosting at ImageCave.com

You can see from the pics how I reshaped the banks first, to make the slope a bit friendlier...

[Tororider]

Looks good. This may be a non issue for you but will the pond be filled all the way near the top eventually? If so will the more gradual slope create an environment to promote a ton of plant growth? Just a thought as if that isn't what you are looking for you could adjust now. Looks great though.

[ETD66SS]

That slope is about all my dozer can handle back blading up the bank.

The pictures make it look shallower than it is. I will take a level and measure the slope, but by eye, looking at it in person, it looks like a 3:1 slope, 18 degrees. That is what was recommended to me by the county conservationist for safety & wildelife access. Some parts of the bank will end up steeper, and I'll have to spread out the clay with my excavator. I really have no way to pack it down however.

No, I don't want weeds all round the banks of my pond. However, any steeper and the dozer struggles to back up the bank.

I will measure it for sure to check.

The water level after I line with clay should theoretically be 1-1.5 ft below the basin.

I also wanted the tops of the bank shallow for mowing purposes.

[Tororider]

Cool, 3:1 sounds about right, for some reason it looked shallower to me. Nice work and whatever the slope it sure looks pretty.

[ETD66SS]

I don't know why my camera does that.

But it is something I want to check, as I hate cattails, etc...

Lemme just say it feels steep when pushing the clay down hill with he dozer!

[EddieWalker]

That mowing angle can be a tricky one. I thought mine was pretty shallow above the waterline and even drove over it with my small tractor to make sure it wasn't too steep. Then as the grass started to grow and the rains eroded part of it and the water level rose, my plan went right out the window. I can mow all around my pond, but there are places that I'm out of the seat as it's so steep and bouncy due to the ruts. Walking around it, the ruts look small. In fact, with the grass grown in, you can't see the ruts. But on the tractor mowing, you sure can feel them.

There is only so close to the water that I can get before sinking in. I cannot mow to the waters edge, it's just too soft for the weight of the tractor. What are you going to mow with and how close to the water do you want to mow? If I was to do it again, I would make my slope allot less. I still might with the dozer if the rains stop long enough and the water drops down to where I don't have to worry about getting stuck.

My neigbhor is digging a pond and his dam is done. He's still digging out the pond itself with a pipe through it for a drain. It might take him a few more years to get it dug this way, but he's trying to maintain his dam. His slope is too much for his tractor and he's doing it by hand with a weedeater. He might have to add a massive amount of dirt to get a slope that he can mow, but until then, he's struggling to keep it under control.

Eddie

[ETD66SS]

I want to be able to mow right up to the waters edge.

Here is a sketch of the planned bank cross-section:

[ETD66SS]

Well, I checked the slope, it's ony 4:1.

I tried to do a section of the bank at 3:1, but got my dozer spinning it's tracks in the loose soil, it could not make it up that incline. Good thing I had the excavator to pull it out.

Will I have vegetation problems with a 4:1?

[EddieWalker]

Only way to know for sure is to drive it with what you plan to mow it with. My dam is 3:1 under water and then works it's way to flay in 12 to 20 feet. It's pretty scary in places, but doable. I just have to go real slow. Having the finish mower has made a huge differenc in the slope that I can mow and in not getting stuck as easy. The rotary mower put allot of weight on the rear of the tractor and it sunk much faster!!!!

Honestly, if you plan on living there and maintaining it, get the mowing slope as shallow as possible. Spend the time now to get it right and enjoy it the rest of your life. Get it too steep and the rest of your life, this will always be an issue for you.

Eddie