Got things really tippy today on the tractor....

[Luremaker]

Steve, my pond was built in 1940/41. We have a soil conservation lake that was built with money from one of the recovery programs after the great depression. The lake dam was built in 1941 and my ponds were the fish breeding ponds for the lake. The pond sits at the mouth of an erosion gully leading to the lake, so it had been collecting silt for 64 years. That's why silt was 10' deep in the middle. Most stock ponds people own will have nothing like this. I just show it to bring home the reality that you never know what is there until you start digging. You have to treat the pond with a lot of respect and caution. Most people who do a lot of pond work with a dozer will know just exactly how to approach the problem. People with equipment and not much experience are in danger of learning the hard way. That's what I'd like to prevent by showing my photos.

Thanks for the details Jim. Good luck cleaning your stock tanks Warhammer.

 

[Rick5724]

My stock tanks have been dry for a month or two now. I have been getting quotes to get them cleaned out and have been unpleasantly surprised at the prices being given.

I drove the tractor down into the tank today to try a little cleaning with the FEL.
I was surprised at how soft the dirt was - like loose ash. The tractor started really tilting over immediately, fortunately I had two wheels on a firmer portion and never stopped rolling forward or this would have been a pretty good getting stuck at a minimum.

Warhammer

Warhammer, I can relate to your post. I'm in Copperas Cove and am trying to clean out my tank. I have pumped it almost dry and working on the silt with a backhoe/fel. It is going pretty slow, but I will continue and get done what I can this year and save the rest for next year. Wish mine was as dry as yours.
Good luck. Rick