Creating a Lake

[EddieWalker]

Sorry, I should have said. The tracks are of two deer. You can't see from the photo, but there's also racoon, squirrel and bird tracks.

 

[EddieWalker]

It's been 7 months since I've worked on building my lake. I sort of got distracted buidling my house. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

My parents are visiting and my Dad just loved running the dozer and clearing brush. He's not much of moving dirt, but he's perfect for what I need him to do.

Previously it was so wet in this area that I couldn't get the dozer in there, so I started at the top and was working on my keyway. Now, everything is dry and I can concentrate on clearing and burning.

Here's a pic of my Dad on the dozer clearing an open area for a burn pile.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

The dozer goes through just about everything!!!!

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Then he piled the brush and trees up nice and tight.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

It didn't take much to start the fire with all the small stuff that we're taking out. Mostly it's a tangle mess of sapplings, willows and bottomland vegitation.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

With a clear area around the fire, it's allot easier to clear brush and add it to the fire.

Every tree and bush in the background will have to come out and burn.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

This pic shows the location of the dam. On the right will be the lake. The trees on the left will remain.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

While my dad if operating the dozer, I'm on the backhoe taking out the trees that don't pop right out with the dozer.

Lots of people tell me you can take out any tree with a dozer, and I agree, but I can get the bigger trees out faster and easier with the backhoe.

So while my Dad is doing the bulk of the clearing, I'm going from big tree to big tree, laying them down.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Sometimes two trees grow together so tight you have to take them out at the same time.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Once they drop, I clean off the root balls with the teeth on the bucket so they will burn a little better.


Eddie

 

[Holzster]

still looing great!!

I was thinking about your dam the other day - I thought you put it onhold for you new house - so I was right (I guess right every other year)

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks Holzster, I have a bad habbit of not finishing a project before starting another one. True to form, the house isn't done yet either. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Not allot of change, just more open dirt and fewer trees.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

We kind of started in the back corner of where the lake is going to be, and cleared enough room to start the fire. Then it's been a matter of clearing in a bigger circle working our way out.

As the opeing gets bigger, so does the fire. I'm trying to keep the fire long, thin and low to keep it under control.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Too many suprises today. This tree should have pushed right over after I cut the roots, but it snapped instead. Something I'd prefer didn't happen. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

While digging out a stump and some brush, a possum tumbled out of the bucket. I was so suprised to see it fall out that I didn't even reckognize it. I thought is was a white bunny rabbit at first with a weird tail and no ears. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

While pushing over a tree, a rat ran out from the roots to another tree that I'd already pushed over.

While cutting the roots of a tree, I pulled up the body of a small snake out, minus it's head. It was black with a white belly. Pretty sure it was a cotton mouth. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Plus an untold number of roots that snap out and fling a shower of dirt clods in my face. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Things were going good for too long. Murphy decided to make an apperance.

One of the pins that hold the rake on the dozer fell out. The rake came off the blade and twisted. The steel on the rake is an inch and a half thick, so it don't give much. The brackets holding it on are one inch thick. They broke off.

After looking around for a couple hours, my Dad found the missing pin.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

This in one of the brackets to hold the rake on. I've ground off the old welds and smoothed it out.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Here I am grinding the welds smooth on the dozer blade.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Ready to weld.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

All welded up.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Since it broke, I decided to strengthen it some . I found this piece of 3/4 inch scrap lying around. I cut it in half and put each piece on the inside bracket. The outside bracket will just have to survive on it's own. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie