My dam project started today.

[KubotaToy]

I am sure there are some pond experts on the forum. Since I had to cut the dam down to the key way, I was considering installing a pipeline with a ball valve to allow future draining if needed or to make it easy to get water from the pond. Anybody done this? What size would be reasonable?

This will be separate from the overflow pipe.

 

[cartod]

I am sure there are some pond experts on the forum. Since I had to cut the dam down to the key way, I was considering installing a pipeline with a ball valve to allow future draining if needed or to make it easy to get water from the pond. Anybody done this? What size would be reasonable?

This will be separate from the overflow pipe.

I do not like anything running through a dam, including a pipe. A faulty pipe is what just took out Jimmy Houstons 125 acre lake. If you need to drain it, a siphon works just as well.

Jimmy Houstons Lake: FLW Fishing: Houston Rebuilding Lake After Dam Failure

 

[EddieWalker]

I am sure there are some pond experts on the forum. Since I had to cut the dam down to the key way, I was considering installing a pipeline with a ball valve to allow future draining if needed or to make it easy to get water from the pond. Anybody done this? What size would be reasonable?

This will be separate from the overflow pipe.

My thinking when I built my pond is that it would be nice to have the ability to lower my pond level if I needed to do this. I got his idea from reading Pond Boss, and thought it was a good idea. I put a six inch pipe in with a gate valve. From what I read, there are the most reliable. I never opened it, so I don't know for sure.

To make sure water does not travel the length of the pipe, they make collars that go around the pipe and they have a rubber sleeve that slides tight against the pipe. This is very similar to what is used on vent pipes on roofs. To make sure mine was super strong, I poured concrete all the way around the pipe over a foot deep, a foot on either side and a foot above the pipe. I did this in two places. To my knowledge, I do not have a leak of any kind along my pipe.

About 7 years after finishing my pond, I asked my dad to take out a tree that was dying behind the pond. It was fairly close to where the pipes where, but I had it clearly marked and painted bright yellow, so I never thought he couldn't see it or know it was there. My wife and I where about an hour away at a dinner party when my dad called and said he had hit the pipe by mistake and broke it off. In about two hours, my 4 acre pond dropped over a foot from water going through that six inch pipe.

After getting the leak plugged, I decided that there was no reason to have a pipe through my dam. The whole idea of wanting to drain it for some reason was silly, and something I didn't think through. Once you have a pond, you ALWAYS want it as full as possible!!! I have now filled up the pipe as good as I could with a dozen sacks of concrete with the hope that it is plugged for all eternity. Lesson learned.

 

[cartod]

Wow, If there is any more advice I could give it is to "listen to Eddie!" He has definitely been there, done that.

 

[KubotaToy]

A rusted out overflow pipe is what happened to my pond, but it did not wash out the dam like Jimmy's did, that would have saved me a lot of work. One big difference, my pond is maybe 3/4 acre triangle shaped , not much space to absorb silt intrusion. Based on the guy that build the pond, I have about 6-7 feet of silt in the shallow end where a drainage ditch dumps into the pond. I was thinking it would be nice to lower the level to clean out the silt. I have seen golf courses use the siphon to drain small ponds really quickly, so that will work. I was trying to think of anything I need to do before I start rebuilding and then be too late. I do have several 5-6 pond bass, now that I have only 3-4 feet in the middle, I can see several fish I never knew I had.

 

[cat fever]

A rusted out overflow pipe is what happened to my pond, but it did not wash out the dam like Jimmy's did, that would have saved me a lot of work. One big difference, my pond is maybe 3/4 acre triangle shaped , not much space to absorb silt intrusion. Based on the guy that build the pond, I have about 6-7 feet of silt in the shallow end where a drainage ditch dumps into the pond. I was thinking it would be nice to lower the level to clean out the silt. I have seen golf courses use the siphon to drain small ponds really quickly, so that will work. I was trying to think of anything I need to do before I start rebuilding and then be too late. I do have several 5-6 pond bass, now that I have only 3-4 feet in the middle, I can see several fish I never knew I had.

I like reading these pond/lake/dam threads very much. I hope for you the very best in repairing your dam. :thumbsup: Like someone said earlier; there are many on here that can help along the way.

 

[KubotaToy]

My pond has been leaking under the dam for several years. After getting a $22K estimate from a pond re-builder, I started collecting equipment to do it myself, finally found a dump truck last week to haul the mud/silt. Started cutting it today but did not reach the water level since the pond is only half full but will tomorrow. Should be fun project. At least I can use the excavator for something other than digging holes for my wife's roses

Picture of my excavator on the dam and all the trees I cleared off the back of the dam.

Well, I thought I would update my year old thread as my pond work and dam repair is almost done, planting some grass and shaping the sides a little. I installed two 18" overflow drains vise the one it had before.

 

[KubotaToy]

More pics, and some of the equipment I used. My wife is running the backhoe shaping the back side of the dam. She moved a lot of dirt for me, one bucket at a time with the L45 (I offered her the cabbed T770 but she preferred the L45.

Now to find someone to drill a well for me to fill the pond and keep it full.

 

[TractorGuy]

At least I can use the excavator for something other than digging holes for my wife's roses

This made me LOL. Was transplanting azaleas and a rose bush with the backhoe yesterday.

Wish I had that excavator for MY 5 acre stump field.

 

[Thomas]

Heck of weekend project,but good help and equipment looks like very stress.