Creating a Lake

[EddieWalker]

Bikerdib,

Thank you for the nice compliments and your concern. You know the old saying about what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. While I wouldn't wish the beginning of last year on anybody, I'm in a good place now and actualy happy to have it behind me and the opportunities that are open for me to explore. From what you've said, I have a feeling that you know what I mean.

Good luck on your pond. The clearing of the trees and getting it ready to dig was by far the most dificult part of it for me. Just very time consuming and slow going. Once the digging started, it was easier to see the progress and imagine what it would look like.

I'm really glad that I took as many pictures as I did, but trying to organize them and create an album is a bit overwhelming. I want to make a nice scapbook of the process, but with so much more that I want to do to it, I haven't actually started on it yet.

One of the best things about posting pics of a project on TBN is that it's a record of what happened, and when. With everyones comments, I also know why I did what I did, and how some of it came about. It's better then a diary!!!!!!!

You should start a thread on your project and post pics as you go. Funny thing is that somebody will look at your pics, ask you a question and you'll realize that you can make it better. Some of the best advice comes without even asking for it, or knowing that you need it. With TBN, there is so much help out there that anything you can do on your own, they can help make it better!!!!



Brandi,

There was a heck of a front coming through here last night. When I went to bed, it was looking very severe with tornado warnings and large hail expected. As it got closer to my place, it split in half and missed me completely!!!!!

I'm 2 feet low. I've been there since summer. I get enough rain to keep me at this level, but once summer heats up, I'm going to be in trouble if something doesn't happen in the next couple of months.

Eddie

 

[bikerdib]

Good for you Eddie, sounds like you have completely moved on from the breakup. I can imagine that the two kids are having a problem with the split up? I'm lucky I guess, we decided not to have kids from the very beginning. I can't imagine the impact my ex's life style would have on kids. Of course since we were together 21 years, those kids would have been grownups by the time we split. One of my two brothers and his wife still won't talk to the ex, they completely disagree with her chosen lifestyle. I say live and let live.

We are in an extreme drought in the area I'm building my pond so the main problem I'm dealing with is the dust as I use the tractor; cough, cough :laughing:. I wish I could make myself take pictures. I took one as I started digging the footings for the camphouse but never took anymore along the way. Now that I've finished, I wish I had documented it in pictures. Same goes for the pond. Like I said, I'm clearing the trees from an old creekbed so I can widen it into a pond. I've got most of the trees removed already and never thought to take a picture of the tangle before I started. It was really thick with trees everywhere with trunks from 2" diameter to 12" diameter and all between that were Yaupon and choker vine. It was so thick in places you couldn't even work your way through on foot. I just started on one end and worked my way to the other. I've already removed some of the dirt to use around the camphouse and other areas I wanted to build up. I think I'll be improving my property quite a lot since the area was useless as it was. I never even went into that area. I still haven't made up my mind if I want to do all the dirtwork myself or hire in a small dozer w/operator. An experienced operator could probably do it in 1/4 the time it'd take me. But if I did it all myself I could say "I did it all myself". Buying a small dozer is pretty much out of the question for a project as small as mine. In fact, I could probably do it with a good sized backhoe. The old creekbed is already about 4' deep so all I need to do is widen it and dig down to some clay to line it with. I even am considering buying a BH for my little B3300 and doing it with that.

 

[beppington]

... I can't imagine the impact my ex's life style would have on kids. Of course since we were together 21 years, those kids would have been grownups by the time we split. One of my two brothers and his wife still won't talk to the ex, they completely disagree with her chosen lifestyle. I say live and let live. ...

I suspect not many could be that mature. That's mighty big of you :thumbsup:

 

[bindian]

Bikerdib,

Thank you for the nice compliments and your concern. You know the old saying about what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. While I wouldn't wish the beginning of last year on anybody, I'm in a good place now and actualy happy to have it behind me and the opportunities that are open for me to explore. From what you've said, I have a feeling that you know what I mean.

Good luck on your pond. The clearing of the trees and getting it ready to dig was by far the most dificult part of it for me. Just very time consuming and slow going. Once the digging started, it was easier to see the progress and imagine what it would look like.

I'm really glad that I took as many pictures as I did, but trying to organize them and create an album is a bit overwhelming. I want to make a nice scapbook of the process, but with so much more that I want to do to it, I haven't actually started on it yet.

One of the best things about posting pics of a project on TBN is that it's a record of what happened, and when. With everyones comments, I also know why I did what I did, and how some of it came about. It's better then a diary!!!!!!!

You should start a thread on your project and post pics as you go. Funny thing is that somebody will look at your pics, ask you a question and you'll realize that you can make it better. Some of the best advice comes without even asking for it, or knowing that you need it. With TBN, there is so much help out there that anything you can do on your own, they can help make it better!!!!



Brandi,

There was a heck of a front coming through here last night. When I went to bed, it was looking very severe with tornado warnings and large hail expected. As it got closer to my place, it split in half and missed me completely!!!!!

I'm 2 feet low. I've been there since summer. I get enough rain to keep me at this level, but once summer heats up, I'm going to be in trouble if something doesn't happen in the next couple of months.

Eddie

Eddie,
My pond is about 2 feet low also.
hugs, Brandi

 

[groundcover]

Glad you guys are away from the fire danger. My pond is running over ! Looks like I'll have a bit of repair work when things dry up.

 

[bindian]

Glad you guys are away from the fire danger. My pond is running over ! Looks like I'll have a bit of repair work when things dry up.

Thanks Groundcover!

Eddie, I made a mistake on my pond level. It is over 3 feet below overflow.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bikerdib]

Eddie,

I remember in one of the posts you mentioned you came up with some type of grapple for your FEL. Would you tell me more about it please. I think I remember you said it was not hydraulic?

Dennis aka bikerdib

 

[EddieWalker]

I tried a few ideas on a home made grapple for my front bucket, but they all failed on me. After wasting so much time and money trying to find a way to save money, I bought a hydraulic grapple long after finishing the tree removal part of creating Lake Marabou. In hindsite, I really could have saved all sorts of time and energy if I had the grapple then. It would have resulted in less dirt in my burn pile, cleaner burns and of course, less effort from getting off the backhoe, wraping the chain around the tree, draging the tree, unhooking the chain and then pushing/lifting it onto the burn pile.

Here's a few pics of the grapple that I have.

Eddie

 

[bikerdib]

OK, thanks on the "warning" about trying to make my own. You only mentioned your home made grapple in one post then it was never brought up again so I thought it worked for you. Just out of curiosity though, I'd still like to see what you tried if you have any pics of it and it's not too much trouble.

 

[groundcover]

Wow what a thread ! I have looked at bits and pieces but just spent the last few days reading it from the beginning . What a story, not just about a pond but a " life blog"! You would never know that mother nature didn't build that lake . Had a few detour links and now need to look at the Mule and baby pig threads from the start. Bitter sweet both to be at the end of the thread ( for now) and to see all the hope and promise of Steph and her kids there but knowing what was coming . Funny how by reading and looking at all those amazing pictures you feel like you get to know more about someone half way across the country then some friends right in town. Glad you are in a better place now Eddie and outstanding work not just on the lake but all your projects. Sweet grapple ! Kind of looks like your tool box motto is " go big or go home "! Keep up the good work and the great threads ! Thank you !

 

[EddieWalker]

Thank you Groundcover. That was very nice of you. Glad to hear you enjoyed reading all of it.

Eddie

 

[Localmotion]

Eddie - your lake looks truely beautiful. I hope oneday to have the time for a holiday, and can't think of a better spot for a picnic and bit of relaxation :thumbsup:

I don't want to hyjack your thread - but I need a bit of advice from lake / pond owners & builders such as yourself as I am planning to build a "small" pond here next month.

If anybody can help, please take a look at my thread:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/203835-best-way-line-pond.html

Thanks

 

[tony Cecil]

Always nice to see something from you.....Just a small update on my pond, the salt water one on the river.....This year I got some twelve foot length of interlocked (cmi brand) heavy plastic sheeting...two feet wide.....Got a contractor friend of mine with a 121 KUBOTA to drive four hundred feet---out of twelve hundred--in the worse eroding part...Left two feet showing and plan to bank the sandy clay on top of that..I felt although the plastic is expensive, it would be the cheapest two feet I could buy.......The high tides eroded some each year....I think this will slow it down, but as you know Mother Nature is relentless Tony

 

[beppington]

Eddie: IIRC, you mentioned (in this thread or another) that a 2' thickness of clay is required for a pond liner, for it to hold water. How did you know you had 2' uniformly when making yours, or did you just eye-ball it? I read most of this thread some time ago, & maybe you said but I can't remember: When filling it, were you nervous you might've missed a spot with the clay, & that the pond might not hold water? If that had happened, did you have a plan to try to figure out where the leak(s) might be, or any other plan/ ideas?

Also, if you had just one small spot with no clay, do you think your pond's water would all leak out - I mean is it as critical as say an above-ground pool, where one pinhole (spot of no clay, in this case) means all your water's gone, slowly but surely (down to the level of the pinhole anyway)?

 

[EddieWalker]

The 2ft thickness comes from reading the different websites and books on pond building. Two feet of compacted clay is a common number that is uniform in every source that I've come across.

While digging my ponds, I was in solid clay the entire time except for one area. To my understanding, the 2 foot rule is for new clay that is added. Existing clay can be less, but there isn't any way to know for sure how deep it is all over. That's really where the worry factor kicks in when seeing if it will hold water.

The area that I went through the clay and hit sand is where I had to add clay. I dug out the sand several feed deeper then 2 feet. It was a pocket that started where my clay ended, near my overflow. After digging out the sand, I pushed in the clay from the middle of my pond. I probably have closer to 3 feet of clay in that area.

If I had a leak, the water level would drop down to that leak. If it was in the dam, then I'd know at what level, but not sure where it would be along the shoreline. Hopefully it would be obvious, but I don't really know. If it was in the bottom, then it would be the same process, with just as much confusion as to just were it is. I think that all I would know is at what depth the leak is.

Eddie

 

[bikerdib]

That's my biggest worry with the small pond I'm working on; will I have enough clay. It will get a lot more expensive if I have to have some hauled in. The old pond (over 20 years old) right across the road from me holds water pretty well so I think I'll be alright but I won't know till the actual digging starts. I'm still taking out trees and moving dirt (topsoil) where I need it elsewhere on my property. I'm almost through taking out the trees so the real fun should begin soon.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've been looking at picnic tables and before buying anything, I'm looking for some advice from anybody who has one of those, or has a better idea. My thought is to have a bunch of picnic tables around the shoreline, as well as other places on my land. I think that 6ft is plenty big enough. I like the idea of steel frames becuse they can slide across the grass and the wooden picnic tables all seem to get "wobbly" in a short period of time.

Northern Tool has two that I thought where interesting. One is more heavy duty then the other, but they are both poweder coated. I cant find anything to say how one is heavier then the other, just that the heavier one is $70 more. I'm unsure if I like the plastic tops or not. I haven't seen them in person, so it's a gamble if I'll like them or if they will hold up over time. For $270 plus another $70 for shipping, this is at the top end of what I want to spend.

Leisure Time Poly Picnic Table with Steel Frame — 72in.L, Green, Model# 25067 | Picnic Tables | Northern Tool + Equipment

Amazon has a frame that is very affordable, and that scares me. I'm worried that it might be too light duty, thin and something that I'll end up throwing away once it rusts out. It's only 30 pounds, and I think its painted black. I didn't see anywhere that it was powder coated. Price is $64 plus $21 for shipping. Since it will be sitting on grass for it's life, I worry that the paint will come off from being pulled around, and then it will just start to rust. How long it will last is what I'm worried about, but I'm also wondering how solid it will be?

Amazon.com: Jack Post-Xizmen FC-30 Fiesta Charm Picnic Table - Frame Only: Kitchen & Dining

Ebay has two that caught my eye. The first one is dipped galvanized. They say that this gets the outside AND the inside of the pipe. I really like that. It is made of 1.66 OD tube and weighs 65 pounds. At $140 and $50 for shipping, it's the most expensive frame that I've seen.

Picnic Table Frames Galvanized 6 Foot - eBay (item 180516775271 end time May-01-11 11:14:02 PDT)

The other frame on Ebay that I liked is in Coleman TX. Anybody from there? It is also galvanized, but I don't know if it's outside AND inside like the other one on Ebay. It's 17 gauge and weighs 55 pounds. Price for this frame is $99 plus $50 for shipping. I might have to pay tax on it since it's in TX, but it's still cheaper then the other one, and a lot heavier then the cheap one on Amazon.

Picnic Table- Galvanized picnic table frame only - eBay (item 270708043387 end time May-18-11 14:30:29 PDT)

I like the traditional look of wood on picnic tables, so that's not a plus or negative when compared to the plastic tops on the Northern Tool tables. Idealy, I would want to buy something that is good quality and to be able to buy from them again and again over the years. I don't know if that is possible, but part of my concerns.

What would you buy and why?

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[fowllife]

FWIW, if it's hot dip galvanized then it will be galvinized inside and out. I'm pretty sure hey can't dip just the outside. If its electro plated galvanized then it may be just the outside, that can be more of a spray on galvinizing if I remember correctly.

I didn't look at the links, but if they are galv pipe that is cut, bent, drilled, then bolted they will still rust at any of those points. Fabricated then dipped your be the best, if you can find it.

 

[beppington]

I recently built a wood picnic table from a nice plan I found online that makes efficient use of the boards you buy.

The cost of materials was ~$93 total. However, I found that for about $9 more I could extend it from 6' long to 8' long. (9.7% more money for 33% more picnic table )

It was an easy & satisfying project that only took one eve to make. I think if you were to make 4 or 5 (or more) of them, you could make them all in less than a weekend.

Un-stained to date, but that's coming (oh, we prefer to remain anonymous )

 

[EddieWalker]

That's a really nice table, and I like how detailed the plans are. I saw some wooden tables similar to yours at Lowes that were already done for under $100, but doubt they are as well put together as yours. My concern with wood is two fold. They tend to wobble after a few years, and I need to be moving it around all the time because it will be sitting on my dam. To mow, I plan to just drive into it, and push it to an area that I've already mowed, then mow where it was. Then the next time I mow, push it back to where it was, and keep doing this every time I mow. Getting off the mower, or tractor to do this goes against my desire to be lazy and not have to get off the seat.

I still might build some wooden ones later on, and appreicate this plan to make it easier. Its such a classic look that if I had a place to put them where they were not needed to be shoved around once a week, I think they would last for a very long time.

Eddie