Building Lake Corona

[ning]

Another mistake that I made was making the shoreline drop off too steep. I marked around the pond with red paint to show were the water would be when full, and then I graded the ground above the waterline so it would be easy to mow. Not much of an angle. Then on the water side, I wanted it to drop off as fast and as steep as I could to discourage reeds and other plants from growing there.

The thing I didn't think about was that the pond is only full for a short period of time, and as it drops, I have to deal with mowing the steep drop off. In places, this is very scary. Another thing I didn't realize was that the plants that grow in just a few inches to a foot of water will grow right up to the edge of the water and then take over the grass if not mowed constantly.

So now my challenge in life is mowing reeds at the edge of the water. Two years ago, I got a bigger tractor and a 12-foot batwing. This has made it a lot easier to get to the edge of the water and not have my tires any closer than I have to.

If I was doing it all over again, I would of made my shore line shallower, and easier to mow. The first five years was easy, but as Mother Nature takes over, she does what she wants!!!!

View attachment 3252830

I've been thinking of getting a sickle bar mower for this reason, being able to cut off to the side a ways without a huge weight over there

 

[jk96]

Wrapped up moving dirt today. Just need to compact and move some of the fish structure back in. The timber around the pond I cleared last fall is getting some good growth and greening up now that sunlight is hitting the ground so I'm not too concerned with erosion. I'll post some final pics next week, get a yard stick in to measure water loss, and hope for rain.

 

[civilian]

Dad has 3 ponds that were put in in the 1950's. Became natural streams in the cedar swamp. They all have a shallow edge in the water. Meaning a youngster that fell in could stand up and then get out. Too steep of an edge is about impossible to walk out of. Out about 6ft then the pond bottom drops off. Yes this leaves some potential for underwater growth, but has not been a problem. These ponds are all within easy access from his house. Jon

 

[jk96]

Dad has 3 ponds that were put in in the 1950's. Became natural streams in the cedar swamp. They all have a shallow edge in the water. Meaning a youngster that fell in could stand up and then get out. Too steep of an edge is about impossible to walk out of. Out about 6ft then the pond bottom drops off. Yes this leaves some potential for underwater growth, but has not been a problem. These ponds are all within easy access from his house. Jon

I have one side that I would consider steeper than desired. It would require a large amount of dirt moved to build out the slope. I can climb it with my ctl so walkable in water, not sure. The rest I would consider a steep slope but nothing you couldn't walk out of.

 

[civilian]

Is the bottom fairly clean? Dad's being spring fed and creek fed, gets a lot of silt. Which makes like a quick sand, loose your boot in stuff. BTDT. My prior post is to just point the fact of being able to get out of pond after falling in. Jon

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I have a 9' Deere 350 sickle bar cutter. It is one of the most cantankerous contraptions I have ever used....But once you have it hooked up to the 3 point, and get going, things fall into place for trimming the pond. They are also high maintenance. But they do the job as good as anything I've ever seen.

 

[jk96]

Is the bottom fairly clean? Dad's being spring fed and creek fed, gets a lot of silt. Which makes like a quick sand, loose your boot in stuff. BTDT. My prior post is to just point the fact of being able to get out of pond after falling in. Jon

Just finished reworking it so dry at the moment. I understand the concern. I don't think there is anywhere that your going to be stuck should you fall in. May be on hands and knees in one spot but not going to be stuck with no way to exit.

 

[jk96]

The hillside where my loader is sitting is where I've pulled the clay from. I need to use my top soil piled up top to cover this hill and the walk path I cut in so I can get some grass to grow and control erosion. Any suggestions on how much to add. 6", 12"? Should the clay be scarified before adding topsoil to help keep it from sliding? It is pretty smooth at the moment from cutting with the bucket.

 

[EddieWalker]

Here in East Texas, we don't have topsoil, It's all red clay from the surface until it turns into another color of clay. Coastal Bermuda grass is our preferred grass for hay and ground cover. If nothing is done, Bahia will take over.

 

[jk96]

From what I'm finding online 4 to 6" for establishing grasses.