A nice find!

[STx]

This will probably turn into a project post later.

A couple of days ago I was working in a little detention pond to repair a washed out dam and deepen it a little. While digging, I found a small spring/seep a couple of feet down so I let it be to see what would hay. When I checked this morning,bit was 3-4' deep and about 30' across so, it's flowing really well, especially considering how dry we've been.

I think I'm going to cut a road down to this so I can get the dump truck down there to haul dirt back up the hill. It's pretty rocky up by the house and this is good dirt. I'm going to clear the brush around this and turn this into a proper pond. I think it's going to stay wet year round, like I said we've been super dry so that it's flowing right now is a really good sign. The water is nice and cold do it'll make a great summer swimming hole and should do well for some fish.

I'm really stoked about this find.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

My grandfather ran sheep on some hill ground. There was a seep. He started digging, and by the time he was done it ran a 3" pipe full. Understand that this was a guy who was a silver miner in Leadville, Colorado, so his definition of "digging" might have been different from yours and mine.

 

[STx]

This is my digging equipment, I'd bet he and I are on the same page.

I'm thinking I'll probably move 600+ yards out of there before I'm done. The dump truck holds 11 yards so 60+ trips up the hill.

 

[ponytug]

"You call that a knife?"

I'd hazard a guess that you are on the same page. Can't wait to see the project posts.

Awesome machine.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Diggin It]

Do you carry the little one around in the bucket of the big one?

 

[Jstpssng]

This is my digging equipment, I'd bet he and I are on the same page.

I'm thinking I'll probably move 600+ yards out of there before I'm done. The dump truck holds 11 yards so 60+ trips up the hill.View attachment 695318View attachment 695319

Here we call that “The proper tool for the job.” It appears we might be enjoying another “Lake Covid” thread soon.

 

[STx]

Do you carry the little one around in the bucket of the big one?

I haven't but I'm fairly certain that if I pull the tracks in it'll fit in the bucket. I'm going to have to try it.

 

[rademamj1]

It's also possible you just exposed the subsurface ground water table, and this is just seeping into the pit because it's normal. As hot summer weather comes, the ground water table drops, and you can see the water in the pit slowly disappear.

 

[STx]

It's also possible you just exposed the subsurface ground water table, and this is just seeping into the pit because it's normal. As hot summer weather comes, the ground water table drops, and you can see the water in the pit slowly disappear.

I'm 1/2 way up the hill, if this was the water table, my downhill neighbors would be under water. Springs are very common in this area, they're not artesian springs, most are gravity springs.

 

[two_bit_score]

Good little seep.

 

[Rustyiron]

That is a nice find
A good spring is best way to feed a pond. Good luck with this and take us along with you.

 

[Wakey]

That looks like the machine Chris dig18 runs on YouTube.

 

[STx]

That looks like the machine Chris dig18 runs on YouTube.

His is an E version, newer than mine. I've got a D. Mine doesn't require DEF (not sure if his does but, it's Tier 4 final so probably). I'm 99% certain the previous owner deleted the DPF and tuned mine as well, it had a missing EGR hose when I got it was blowing LOTS of black smoke out the exhaust, something that shouldn't have happened if the DPF were still in tact. I'm OK with it being deleted if it is, in fact I prefer that it be. I've only had mine for about a month and have only put maybe 20 hours on it so far, most of that in the last week.

I like the Volvo, the cab is comfortable, it's smooth and fast, even though it's got a hair over 9,000 hours on it.

 

[STx]

I've started the project, it'll take me some time to get it all finished since we're still moving but, I'll work on it when I can. Working on the road right now, I need to get the skid steer fixed so I can finish that, the part I need had to be ordered from Kubota by the dealer so it's taking a while to get here. Hopefully, I'll have it next week.

Anyway, here's video installment #1 from 4/20/2021

I'll have video of the road build up soon.

 

[Tinhack]

You are in the Edwards-Trinity Catchment Area of the Edwards Aquifer. You might want to check with the EEA before you do more disturbing of the ground water. While it's your land, in Texas the water rights are NOT! You most likely will need a permit! You can loose everything by ignoring it. The fines (per day) can be staggering--Million$ ++.

If you don't believe me, look up the history of the catfish farm guy south of SA.

 

[STx]

I'm not in the Edwards, which is very much regulated, and I own the water rights. We got water and minerals when we bought the place. I need a permit to drill a well that will produce more than 50GPM but, that's the only requirement we have.

This is our governing body - BCRAGD – Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District

Also, the catfish farmer ended up getting bought out by SAWS for $30mm. If they want to come buy out my water rights for $30mm, I'll probably sell them. LOL San Antonio's infamous catfish farm's well to be capped

 

[Spindifferent]

Beautiful hill country around Bandera! Access to water makes it so much more beautiful (and valuable). Hope it flows year-round so that future fish and wildlife get to enjoy it as well.

 

[STx]

Beautiful hill country around Bandera! Access to water makes it so much more beautiful (and valuable). Hope it flows year-round so that future fish and wildlife get to enjoy it as well.

Thanks, we're really enjoying it here. We have a really pretty seasonal spring on the property as well, with a nice waterfall. It's been dry since around Sept though. It's been really dry here, as you know. I think we need a good 3 - 4 inches over several days to really soak in and get that spring running again.

 

[STx]

First part of the road build is done.

I've never done any video editing before so, I welcome any comments on the video. I tried to just show the interesting bits and cut out the boring stuff. It's tough compressing 3 hours of work into a 15 minute video, took more time to make the video than it did to do the work..lol