Now I wish I would have taken some construction pics but.... never did. Anyway I did all the digging and dirt removal with FEL (without toothbar, I'm sure one would have helped). The pond went in a low spot in my yard where the culvert from across the street drains. It had an existing ditch but it always flooded the entire area when it rained hard at all. I happend to catch the ground the one week this year when it did not rain, so it was soft but not muddy on the top. I could dig about a 1 foot or 2 before it would mud up real bad. Then it would dry down enough the next day to allow another foot or so the next evening. You don't know how I glad I was it did not rain... Then I used the removed dirt to raise the grade around the pond. I did use the box blade to drag a 4 ditch for the overflow and help spread the dirt around the pond. The night after I had it all dug we got a huge T-Storm and it's be full ever since. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I just worked my way from the long in slope that I could backup with load. I tried the box blade but the Turf tires could not get the traction on the moist clay to pull it effectively. Once I was down about 3+ on the far I came in from the side/ends and worked another slope down. Then just backdragged around the edges to make it bit steeper near the top. I also added some "sod" (lumps of grass scooped with the FEL) around the edges to raise it bit more. Now I'm building up the surrounding area up to level the edges and letting the grass come in. Lot's of bermuda around here so it spreads fast.
I did learn that the run off I receive is a LOT more than I thought, during a good storm it will flow over a 10" deep creek over my 4 foot wide spillway. That was reason for raising edges a bit more. The first time it really rained the pond overflowed in all direction including some I did not want. I think I have pretty much under control now. We do loose a fish or 2 now and then over spillway but the Goldfish and most of the other seem to find a quiet spot during rain and stay put, and we have had enough rain this summer to test this almost daily.
It was/is a fun project just take your time and be careful... I got it a bit tippy and "mostly" stuck in the hole several times. It ammazed me how quick the tractor would dig a wheel into a soft spot once loaded and lift the rears. Taught me real quick to slow down and watch where the wheels where going. I'm still playing with the overall layout but as long as you can to the edges you can always dig or drag the dirt around to tweak things into shape unless you wind up having to install a liner. SO far it's staying pretty full. I loose about 4-8" in week but after that it seems to slow down. I'll see how it really does when we get a dry spell.
