Digging a pond

[GordNovo]

I've been thinking about digging a pond with my 2305. I'd like it to have a gradual slope on one end with a 6-7 ft drop on the other end. With a toothbar and plenty of ballast at hand, do you think a 2305 would be up to the task?

I'd like to make it approx 50 ft long and 30 ft or so wide. It's been an extremely dry summer so far. So if there's a time to do it, it's NOW! The only thing is there's plenty of clay gumbo in these parts and the ground could be fairly hard down there. I've moved lots of material so far in other parts of the yard so I know the tractor can do a lot, but I haven't dug a lot of undisturbed/compressed clay.

I've seen other ponds posted by other TBNers. Does someone have a pic of one dug by a 2305/2210?

Thanks!

 

[gordon21]

You could do it, BUT, it would take forever using just a loader. And that assumes you don't encounter many big rocks. I am excavating about the same size area you are and there is no way I would ever get it done with just the loader. See the post about little backhoes doing big jobs. Your loader will not dig up big rocks or roots. it will be trying to take a 5' bite every time. A backhoe bucket is using the same tractor strength in trying to dig 12-16" at a time. Those two rocks were just under the surface during the first 10' of digging at the "shallow" end.

 

[GordNovo]

Thanks G21, talk about a good reason to decide to move the pond over 10 feet!

How many hrs do you figure it'll take you with the ho? How deep are you going?

G

 

[gordon21]

After seeing the progress made after 3 hours engine time, I am expecting the whole area to take about 30-40 hours. A couple months of working on Saturdays and a few week nights thrown in. I am cutting a wedge almost exactly like yours except it is upside down. 50'long x 30' wide x 6.5' high.

The hoe could loosen all the dirt for moving in a short time. The actual loading of loose dirt one bucket at a time and driving it to the spoil pile is what will take a lot of hours.

 

[wolc123]

It took me around 60 hours to put in a pond that size with an old Ford 8n and pond scoop. I did not have any boulders to deal with and did not hit clay until I was down about 5 feet. Shortly after that job the 8n needed a valve job so it probably would have been cheaper to rent an excavator. I think you are looking at 40-50 hours if you have similar soil conditions, a tooth bar and not that far to move the fill.

 

[Deadman]

Remember the dirt is going to pile up somewhere and you're going to have to keep making different or bigger piles to dump all the stuff. I could forsee this to be a lot bigger project that expected.