COUNTRY AIRE ESTATES-POND,ROAD BUILDING AND OTHER MISC PROJECTS

[dirtworksequip]

I forgot to mention........ that isn't me running the hoe on the JD 870. Its my number #1 helper. Colter. He's been running that hoe for 7 years. In fact he cut his teeth on it. Couldn't have done it without him. He is 9 at the time of the picture.



http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/...TES POND ROAD BUILDING AND OTHER/P5090014.jpg

 

[BTDT]

And then I got the idea that I could make it twice as big! Then the work began. I started out by clearing off any trees that were in the planned pond expansion area. The next step was to strip off the topsoil and pile it out of the way for use later in covering the outside slope and top of dam. At the time there was someone getting a swimming pool installed in the neighborhood and the pool installer had an old JD track loader. It was in need of a carrier roller so I ask if I replaced the carrier roller for him could I use it some. The pool guy said " sure use it all ya want as long as its here."I was able to do the clearing and strip the top soil using the old JD loader.

Then a short time later a friend of mine that has a small excavating company was in the area doing some work with his Case 455 track loader. So he let me use it to get some dirt work done on the pond.

In the pic you can see where I started to tie in the new dam with the existing pond. Also in building a pond it is imperative to keep it dry during construction. So I dug a ditch as deep as the hoe would reach.(8') at what I thought would be the lowest point and put in some 4 inch SDR 35 gasketed sewerline to drain any water out of the work area. Thats my old 870w/ 8b hoe.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/...TES POND ROAD BUILDING AND OTHER/P5090008.jpg

What are the white poles for?

 

[dirtworksequip]

The drainline is in and now its time to MOVE SOME DIRT!

to be continued..........

 

[dirtworksequip]

BTDT, Its so hilly around here you have to install slip monitor stations. They are tubes that are drilled into the ground down to solid rock and have an electronic monitor in them. If the ground begins to move, you can tell with the monitor. I have them hooked up to my PC and check them daily.

Only kidding!

They are actually tree grow tubes. 4 inches by 48 inches. Some have Pin Oak and some have Burr Oak trees in them. They give protection from deer and also help hold in moisture to promote growth.I was supprised at the difference it made as to the yearly growth. They act like a little green house. You just leave them on and when the tree gets big enough they just split off of the tree. I bought them from AM Leonard.

 

[BTDT]

Couldn't really tell from the pic. Anytime I see equipment working around something like that kind of makes me nervous. I work for a gas utility and they looked like pipeline markers, just wanted to be sure. Even with pipeline markers in place, you would be suprised how many lines "still" get hit. Looks like your place is shaping up.

 

[dirtworksequip]

BTDT, no natural gaslines within 4 miles of our place. I wish there was.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Ater getting the drain pipe in we started excavating out the pond and building up the inside slope of the dam. We used a Case 455 track loader for this part of the construction. Just getting started a long way to go.





http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/...TES POND ROAD BUILDING AND OTHER/P5310069.jpg

 

[dirtworksequip]

Here is a pic of the pond shot from where the new dam meets the original pond. We left about 8 feet between the original pond and the new excavation. Small topsoil pile and Case 455 in background.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/...TES POND ROAD BUILDING AND OTHER/P5310074.jpg

 

[dirtworksequip]

Topsoil pile. One tip to remember always take your topsoil twice as far away as you think you will need to.


http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/...ES POND ROAD BUILDING AND OTHER/P5310072.jpgo.

 

[dirtworksequip]

In this pic if you look towards the left you can see where the new dam will tie into the original pond. (small dirt pile)


http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/...TES POND ROAD BUILDING AND OTHER/P5090004.jpg