Cleaning a Muck Filled Pond Before its Dry

[jinman]

I'd say to do what you can with the excavator because that pond ain't NEVER gonna be dry. Wow! It sure fills quickly.

 

[studor]

One thing you might be able to do is dig a "drainage ditch" through the three springs and out of the pond. Then do your digging using "benchs" around the edge and when you get to the level you want, dam the ditch. What are you going to do with the earth you extract? You might be able to use that as berm material to edges. --just some thoughts. -- In your other thread you asked about pumps -- what is the one in the pic?

 

[scesnick]

-- In your other thread you asked about pumps -- what is the one in the pic?

Well, since the excavator showed up before i really wanted it, and i was on a very severe time crunch I had to buy a pump that day. It is almost impossible to find a decent one, So I had to buy a Tractor Supply 2" pump. it is a "Red Lion" no, I never heard of it either. But, i hate to admit this but that pump fired up on the very first pull, and has ran like a champ ever since.
The salesman at TSC claimed the motor was actually made by Briggs and Stratton. I didn't really believe him but it does look, sound and run like a Briggs so go figure......

Oh, and here is the machine my buddy let me borrow today.. This should get the job done a tad quicker than my Kubota... I guess he felt pitty on me...lol..I can't wait till i'm off work to play with this bad boy !!

 

[RandyBell]

Thats a 980 B loader. Be careful because they are HEAVY and will sink easily! With that clay and muck you will have a bear of a time getting it out. It will move the earth after it is out of the pond fine, but don't get brave and take it in. They won't float take my word for it the tire treads fill quickly and won't turn fast enough to clear themselves. Good luck

 

[scesnick]

Thats a 980 B loader. Be careful because they are HEAVY and will sink easily! With that clay and muck you will have a bear of a time getting it out. It will move the earth after it is out of the pond fine, but don't get brave and take it in. They won't float take my word for it the tire treads fill quickly and won't turn fast enough to clear themselves. Good luck

Yeah, I have a VERY easy transition down into the pond. I don't plan on diving in with it head first. I plan on seeing what it does and at the very end and go from there. Thanks for the heads up though.

 

[ray66v]

Been there done that. This is a job for a dragline.

Your going to get stuck going in there, and have to spend a lot of time, and energy getting back out.

After trying everything else, my dad bought an old bantam crane for $2500, and made a dragline bucket for it. We dug out his lake, and sold it all for a profit when we were done.

 

[scesnick]

Been there done that. This is a job for a dragline.

Your going to get stuck going in there, and have to spend a lot of time, and energy getting back out.

After trying everything else, my dad bought an old bantam crane for $2500, and made a dragline bucket for it. We dug out his lake, and sold it all for a profit when we were done.

Well, if the initial entry into the easy transition doesn't go well, I guess I will just use the 980 to move all the crap after I get it to solid ground.

I did run the excavator all over the pond and didn't sink at all. I do understand the 980 weighs a whole lot more though.

 

[charlz]

Nice to have friends eh? Maybe he is hoping you are going to stock it with fish and buy him a new fishing pole?

 

[scesnick]

Nice to have friends eh? Maybe he is hoping you are going to stock it with fish and buy him a new fishing pole?

Ha ! that was already discussed....

 

[shack0711]

I have just completed my Pond Muck removal project.
Small pond with about 2 1/2 feed of muck in the bottom.
Pumped the pond dry with a 3/4 HP sump pump that pushed out about 5,000 gallons an hour.
Took about 3 days to pump dry.
Took about 10,000 trips (seems like it) of FEL loads to get it all out.
Pond before was about 6 foot deep and now is about 10 feet deep. Lot's of scraping once the muck was out.
About a 6 day job to do all of it.
Here are the pictures: