Pond dreaming is over

[philbuilt]

For many years I have been looking for water front property. So the story of my pond began. Labor day weekend 2005. The start of a pond began with tire rutts from my son four wheelling. The 1st pic is an aerial of the land and plan. #2 is the machine that I used. #3 is the deep spot about 15' at that time.
I know that I posted these pics on Eddies post but, I want to start here with the full story.

 

[WayneB]

Hey Phil you have a start and water is coming in already! Look forward to seeing more pictures and reading the progress story.

Wayne

 

[philbuilt]

Thanks Wayne,
Next is the piles of dirt. I started at low grade and removed the loam piling in a sort of center spot. With only 16 hrs of rental I wanted to dig as much as possible. pic #1 the loam pile, Pic #2 below grade dirt and start of the shape of the pond. #3 more dirt.#4 moving dirt starts.

 

[philbuilt]

Okay some shots of the pond filling. You may notice that some of the dirt has been smoothed out. The entire hole except was box graded and most of the edges I could drive up. We had about 2 dry week so I was able to grade alot.

 

[philbuilt]

More pond filling pics. and a picture of a rainbow in the back field.

 

[BTDT]

Nice looking pond you have in the works. Rainbow pic was great.

 

[EddieWalker]

Great pics and an amazing project. What I'm really wondering is what are you doing with all the dirt that's coming out of your pond? Getting rid of it is usually more work then digging it out!!!!

With those trees and hill in the background, it's gonna look amazing when it'd done. Thanks for sharing.

Eddie

 

[philbuilt]

BTDT, Thank you it's fun to look out the window and see the work in progress.

Eddie,
You are correct the dirt jus has to be spread out. I am currently working on the back side of the pond. (the wooded edge) I have been pushing into the woods on the right side. (faceing the woods) the goal is to raise grade by 2' or so. The right side of the pond the grade from natural to the wood s is about a 3' differance. Last summer I spent putting a gravel road to the pond so there wasn't much change. Oct. 06 I bought a taylor-way Bh for the massey.and started putting rocks along the edge of the pond. This will allow me to raise and level grade down and back to the woods. My hope is the water will run away from the pond into the woods to a retention pond that I will build. The soil is a clay silt so the goal for the retention pond is to be all gravel to create a filter. A few pics showing the dirt going into the woods.
I'll post more later
Phil

 

[mike69440]

Where are all the car sized boulders like in NH? Looks like playsand. Your are lucky!

 

[philbuilt]

Mike,
I'm sad to say "No Rocks" I'm currently bringing them from the street. Its great for digging but not habitat. Thats why I want to make the gravel retention pond for silt filtration.
Phil