Pic of Bota below water level. Nope not stuck and actually havn't been stuck yet. So far most work not in mud. Bota setting in hole for 2nd day of digging with toothbar. Battery died on picture showing hole. Will try again. Rain forcast for tomorrow, may be test trailer work day.
Build A Pond?
- Thread starter ctpres
- Start date
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This picture shows results of two days of toothbar digging on East side of pond. At this rate I only have 3 or 4 more days of top soil removal. Then smooth out banks, plant some quick ground cover and figure out how to get piles moved to low spots around the ranch. That's the Bar BOB Ranch Head Honcho surveying days work.
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bindian
Super Member
Ctpres,
I am glad to see you are doing it yourself. I dug my 40x80 pond with my 65hp 4WD Mahindra and backhoe. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/135413-i-finally-started-my-pond-28.html
I didn't dig my topsoil, but dozed it to the edge of the pond (my driveway), then just lifted it over the driveway. After putting in a dam keyway, I dozed clay out of the basin up on the dam to a depth of about 4 feet.
At that depth, I had to switch to the backhoe as it was a little narrow to turn hard in the basin with a 7 foot wide bucket full of clay. Done slowly, you can doze dirt or clay into the bucket, then haul it off. I did all this without a tooth bar at the start of the 2009 dry spell. After 4 feet, I just dug with the backhoe.
I also, dozed in standing water at a depth of 6 inches only one day. It was real muddy, but that was dozed out of the way quickly. I left a small underwater island like Meadowlarkponds mentioned. It was a fun project, but hauling the dirt, like others mentioned, was the time consumer. I had piled it up across the driveway and I am still trying to find the best place to put the clay spoils. I worked my Big RED Beast hard in this project.
If you go swallow ends for ducks and such, let me know if you want some Mosquito fish to eat mosquito larvae. I got a source now that will give me all I want, as they breed fast.
hugs, Brandi
I am glad to see you are doing it yourself. I dug my 40x80 pond with my 65hp 4WD Mahindra and backhoe. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/135413-i-finally-started-my-pond-28.html
I didn't dig my topsoil, but dozed it to the edge of the pond (my driveway), then just lifted it over the driveway. After putting in a dam keyway, I dozed clay out of the basin up on the dam to a depth of about 4 feet.
At that depth, I had to switch to the backhoe as it was a little narrow to turn hard in the basin with a 7 foot wide bucket full of clay. Done slowly, you can doze dirt or clay into the bucket, then haul it off. I did all this without a tooth bar at the start of the 2009 dry spell. After 4 feet, I just dug with the backhoe.
I also, dozed in standing water at a depth of 6 inches only one day. It was real muddy, but that was dozed out of the way quickly. I left a small underwater island like Meadowlarkponds mentioned. It was a fun project, but hauling the dirt, like others mentioned, was the time consumer. I had piled it up across the driveway and I am still trying to find the best place to put the clay spoils. I worked my Big RED Beast hard in this project.
If you go swallow ends for ducks and such, let me know if you want some Mosquito fish to eat mosquito larvae. I got a source now that will give me all I want, as they breed fast.
hugs, Brandi
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davygp38
Gold Member
I am glad to see you started the pond. after reading the first few pages of your post, I thought you might be talked out of it. I almost was. Because of you, and the other members who went forward anyway, I am going to try to build a small pond at my hunting club. I bought the tooth bar for my Kubota L4400, and I also bought Logging chains. I am in NE Pennsylvania. I figured the chains would help to compact the soil as well as the extra traction. I will be dealing with lots of rocks, and trees, and very little top soil. Keep up the good work.
bindian
Super Member
I learned from reading Eddie's...Creating a Lake post that to pact the pond dam you need to do it with your front bucket loaded, if using your tractor to pack it down.
hugs, Brandi
hugs, Brandi
If I could change title I would get rid of ?. I decided there was so much great pro and con info in the beginning that I could help others by keeping everything for this project in one place. Finally decided on dirt moving trailer and ordered CMI ATV version 7550 with dump kit. I decided not to go bigger as our ground is so soft that I would spend more time fixing ruts than moving dirt. Also when this job is done it will be more usefull behind our zero turn mower and golf cart. Three trailer mods planned already: add std. 2" hitch coupler for hands free hook-up, add hand crank jack with sand foot and put linoleum on bed for easier dumping. I modified an old 4x5 trailer for dirt hauling and tested dumping with boom pole. Works great, and with the new trailer I will be able to load, haul and dump without leaving seat. Just needed more capacity per trip and less destructive tires. Top soil removal, grading and spoils moved on east side is done almost ready for planting. Decided on buffalo grass for pond banks (dosn't need to be mowed!,) seed ordered this AM. Picture of east side later today.
No dam here. This is totally below grade digging project. Water level established by original streambed, can't go higher as that would flood upstream neighbors land. No complicated plumbing involved. All I need to plan for is water overflow during extreamly rainy times BTW your pond was one of the projects that helped me decide to go ahead.
melonhawg
New member
Looking good! Off topic but I see you have your firewood logs stacked using trees, about How long do you leave them out in the weather before splitting?
bindian
Super Member
Ctpres,
I was referring to Davygp38, as he mentioned......... I figured the chains would help to compact the soil. I am glad my efforts have been used to motivate others.:thumbsup:
hugs, Brandi