How to dig a pond in stages

[20 20]

The 325 is only going to be able to move the dirt 40-50ft at a time and surely you want your pond wider than that

This is ture but I was surpirised at how much dirt can be moved with a larger excavator. What I did was dig, make a fairly large pile then move around to the other side and move that pile away. I have done this on a few occasions and it is surprising how quick dirt can be moved. I will say it is tedious work, but before long the dirt is gone

 

[ultrarunner]

Will silting be a problem?

I've seen a few ponds that over time completely filled...

 

[pjbci]

This is ture but I was surpirised at how much dirt can be moved with a larger excavator. What I did was dig, make a fairly large pile then move around to the other side and move that pile away. I have done this on a few occasions and it is surprising how quick dirt can be moved. I will say it is tedious work, but before long the dirt is gone

You missed the point I was making. If you are trying to move 16000 yds in 40hrs, you are only going to be able to handle it with the excavator one time. If you make a pile, then move it, then move it yet again, times up moneys gone and you have a 1/4 dug out instead of an acre.

 

[JD5225]

Pond digging is out as of now my wife it tired of waiting on a new house and since mine wont sell i am having to dump it so my tractor bulldozer and welding machine investments all have to be sold.....sucks but a happy wife...well you know the rest. I will return another day to get this pond dug.

 

[scoutcub]

Pond digging is out as of now my wife it tired of waiting on a new house and since mine wont sell i am having to dump it so my tractor bulldozer and welding machine investments all have to be sold.....sucks but a happy wife...well you know the rest. I will return another day to get this pond dug.

Sorry to hear it's been put on hold.....and having to sell all the toys?? Double ouch. best of luck!

 

[Kioti Tom]

Back in the 50's Dad had a pond dug on our farm for water storage, fish, swimming etc. The guy who did it did not clear the dam area properly. Left most of the topsoil on and did not take it down 2 ft to the yellow clay. secondly, he just piled the dirt dug out of the pond up to be the dam and never properly widened the dam and packed it down. just pushed it up and left it. The pond always leaked from the bottom of the dam and one year due to heavy rains, and a narrow top of dam ( about 2 ft) we had a washout. I found out I hate digging yellow clay by hand and pickaxe and trundling it around to washout site in a wheelbarrow. My back aches just to think of it.

Tom