Creating a Lake

[patrick_g]

I read where tilapia require 76 to 84 degree water. This was in a state paper on raising them commercially. What is the average annual temperature of the air at your locaton Eddie?

Large thermal masses tend to take on the average surface temperature of the earth at any given location. For me in south central Oklahoma it is 61 .x degrees F. There will be excursions above and below that temp but that will be the temp above and below which the temp swings. the max excursions away from the central tendancy may not be equal in both directions but will average over time toward the average surface temp. This assumes no special non-standard conditions.

I think I recall the bait the guys were using for tilapia. I think it was canned corn.

Patrick

 

[patrick_g]

Pat, I'm not even sure what a thresher shark is.

Good eating is what they are. Sharks have caught on the last 20 years as good eating and as a result many sharks are getting scarce.

THRESHER SHARK - Enchanted Learning Software

 

[Defective]

The stuff you see in that picture is just some floating debri. The wind blows it all to one area and it happened to be by the spillway, where I stood to take that picture.

The water is clearing up along the edges. I can see a few inches through it. Unlike the water in my small pond, this water has a differenent shade of brown to it and is constantly changing. It's real bad after a rain, but starts to clear up after sitting for awhile.

It's along the edge I'm talking about. Where the water seems to be only a few inches deep, it looks like you can see junk on the bottom. Like a big mud puddle that's been left alone for a while.

I'd strongly suspect that once you get some ground cover around that lake, it's going to be crystal clear. Just gorgeous!

 

[RobJ]

Eddie,

Just wondering if you have calculated the runoff you get into the lake. Since this post I seem to look at lakes and ponds differently. Most built into a V of a hill, in the middle of a creek or branch, etc. Also with the rain lately all the lakes around the weekend place...just south of Palestine are full or running over. I noticed the ones going south on 19 to huntsville are also full. The lower area of the Trinity river area at Riverside even has water again. It's been dry for a couple years.

I guess is some of these places 1" of rain coule meen several inches in the pond...depending on how fast it came down and all, slower soaking or a dump and lots more run off.

Nice shot of the moon. Killed the deer hunting for the last weekend. I was able to track deer in my rye patch. Sometime after 11:00pm and before daylight.

Rob

 

[TOMDUALLY]

OK Eddie your lake is full of water or close to it and we know that you aren't the type to sit back and watch the leaves fall from the trees, so let us know what part of the park you're working on now. We all enjoy your posts.

 

[TBDonnelly]

Eddie,
You might want to try some kissing fish in your pond.....

Don

 

[EddieWalker]

Defective,

Compared to my muddy brown water in my small pond, the water is allot clearer in the lake. It also reflect the trees and the sky allot better too. But I have my doubts wether it will clear up any more, or if this is what I'll have.

Rob,

I went to Lowes today and bought a yard stick. At one time, I had a bunch of cheapy yard sticks that were free from home shows, but they seem to have walked off over the years.

I put it in the ground at my overflow and waters edge, then layed down on the ground and adjusted the height by by best guestamate.

It reads that I'm 29 inches low. (see picture)

My watershed is really good in the areas I've cleared. The water just runs off the grass and dirt, with most of it making it to the lake.

There is a wooded area that is still very thick that might make up ten acres or so that sits just before the lake. This area doesn't seem to let hardly any water through it. This is where I should be getting the majority of my watershed, and from what I see in my drainage ditches, it's very minimal. With the wooded area, ther is another 20 t0 40 acres that should be giving me water that I'm not getting. Where is it going?

As I clear that wooded ten acres, I'll figure it out and do what I can to catch more water and direct it to the lake. I want every drop I can get!!!

Tom,

I've been putting pieces of concrete after my culverts to cut down on erosion. Not very interesting, just chunks of concrete. In fact, if you look at the picture, you will see my truck across the lake at one of my culverts. I'm putting sacks of readi mix in between the chuncks of concrete to eliminate any voids. I do a little at a time.

Othewise, I'm just pushing trees and brush into my burn pile with the dozer. I have a leaking cylinder on the backhoe that I'll pull apart this weekend and I bought some steel to make two more street lights for my entrance. Nothing very interesting.

Don,

Thank you for that picture. Steph is right here and she absolutely loved it!!!! I had to copy it to her art folder.

Everyone,

We're expecting a storm as early as tonight, but more likely the next two or three days. If it rains, I'll update the results from the rain guage and the yard stick, plus a few pictures of the lake.

Thank you,
Eddie

PS Did anybody think this thread would break 60,000 views?

 

[TBDonnelly]

Eddie,

In some circles, these fish are known as 'yeller tails'.

Don

 

[patrick_g]

I've been putting pieces of concrete after my culverts to cut down on erosion. Not very interesting, just chunks of concrete. In fact, if you look at the picture, you will see my truck across the lake at one of my culverts. I'm putting sacks of readi mix in between the chuncks of concrete to eliminate any voids.

Riprap after the culverts is a good idea, concrete in between the chunks likely isn't. Sharp edged pieces are most desired as they promote turbulence and take energy out of the flowing water. Smooth rocks are poor performers.

Here is some rip rap (riprap) info:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Riprap (also known as rip rap, shot rock or rock armour) is rock or other material used to stabilize shore. Riprap reduces water erosion by resisting the hydraulic attack and dissipating the energy of flowing water or waves. The shape of rock is important. Coarse, angular rock, usually made by crushing or blasting, or from scree, is more effective at ground reinforcement than round river rock. A correct mixture of aggregate size can also aid riprap's ability to create an interlocking structure.

Riprap is graded by size. A specified diameter will have fifty percent of the rock (by weight) larger and fifty percent smaller. The velocity of water flow is generally the determining factor for size of stone. Riprap varies in size from several centimeters to cast concrete shapes several meters across. The size and material will be specified by a civil engineer or local building code.

Riprap is often used in conjunction with a geotextile or in gabion baskets.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Filling in between with concrete smooths the path for water and lets it retain its energy instead of absorbing it through friction and turbulence. Where does the energy go when taken out of the water? The water and the riprap get heated just a little bit but not enough to seriously contribute to global warming.

Pat

 

[Farwell]

Pat,
If I understood Eddie's post, he is using sacks of Redimix that remain in the sack. It makes a good barrier and sets up quick. It is used all of the time in areas of California where streams flood roads due to excessive rain fall or an early snow melt. I have no idea of how long it lasts.
David B