3 hour pond build

[jk96]

Well actually a watering hole for deer. I've been wanting to do this for awhile and just hadn't got around to it. Unlike my last pond that went on and on during covid, this one was done in under 4 hours not counting time to gather materials to the site. Finished hole is about 30 x 35 roughly. My "Lake Corona" pond has pulled a lot of wildlife into the property, however because it is so open I rarely see deer using it during daylight and if I do it's only doe, rarely a buck. Put this one in by a well used travel corridor by one of my bow stands. All compaction on this one had to be done with the CTL so tried to do it in small lifts. Did a small key around the dam area to make sure and cut roots from the surrounding trees and start with some good clay base. I had a bag of bentonite left over from the other pond rehab so put down 3,000 lbs to help seal it. I've got about 2.5 acres draining into this area so should be easy to fill.

Here's what I started with

A few finished pics. Will be interesting to see what type of trail cam pics I get compared to the big pond.

View from the stand

 

[dodge man]

Getting any rain yet. It’s been dry here in Western Illinois and I know it’s been the same there. Nice job on the pond.

 

[jk96]

No still dry. Looks like a chance for a little bit tomorrow night into Friday. Saying about an inch total. I need to get a new yardstick on the big pond now that temps are down to see what my actual water loss is.

 

[jk96]

We've got an inch of since about midnight last night. Just walked out to take a look. Ground has been so dry I wasn't sure what to expect. Walking back it's saturated now so if the rain continues until 2 like they are calling for I may get this 3/4 full today.

 

[grsthegreat]

I gota ask. Do these ponds attract mosquitoes? It seems like every stagnant pond around me is covered in damn mosquitoes in the summer

 

[jk96]

I gota ask. Do these ponds attract mosquitoes? It seems like every stagnant pond around me is covered in damn mosquitoes in the summer

Provided this one has enough turnover and given the watershed into it compared to size it should I don't think this is going to be a stagnant pond that would breed a lot of mosquitoes.

 

[jk96]

Some fathead minnows should also prevent mosquitoes

 

[Fixastuff]

Cool pond! I use bentonite for some directional drills and dang it is some slippery stuff.

 

[jk96]

Cool pond! I use bentonite for some directional drills and dang it is some slippery stuff.

Yes it is. Both times I've used it I've made sure and hit the machine really well with the leaf blower before cleaning it completely. It can turn into some really nasty stuff when water hits it

 

[jk96]

Rain looks like it is about done. We are going to end up just under or maybe right at 2". A nice slow soaker since midnight that was much needed. Wildlife pond gained maybe another 8 to 10" It looks like a hard short 1" rain would probably completely fill this pond so I'm going to have to keep an eye on it when harder rains hit in order to make sure I dont need to add another overflow. It has a 10" drain in it at the moment.