I finally started my pond

[jinman]

Isn't it grand when something you've planned out and sweat over while building works so well? Your pond and overflow sure look nice. I'd bet you have a few happy minnows in there. Did you see any of them going through the overflow?

 

[FxdGrMind]

Nice work!!

Rained 1.5" here yesterday, but your pond is well ahead of mine for filling.

I can't keep fish... only seasonal pond here. Your's looks like it's going to be a great place to put a recliner and fishing pole....

 

[bindian]

Isn't it grand when something you've planned out and sweat over while building works so well? Your pond and overflow sure look nice. I'd bet you have a few happy minnows in there. Did you see any of them going through the overflow?

Jim,
Oh how sweet it is. No water is overflowing now and the overflow cutout looks pretty close to level with the water! The back side of the overflow culvert has a dug out spot that holds water and backs up a little into the pipe. I would guess if any minnows went over, they would wind up there as it is wider than the pipe and they could swim into non moving water there.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Nice work!!

Rained 1.5" here yesterday, but your pond is well ahead of mine for filling.

I can't keep fish... only seasonal pond here. Your's looks like it's going to be a great place to put a recliner and fishing pole....

FxdGrMind,
We had a seasonal duck pond that always had perch in the rainy season. Just enough water, ducks, and fish to keep it all special in my heart forever. Although a recliner would be nice, I have a fold up chair with leg support that can be there in a minutes notice! How about a photo of you seasonal pond?
hugs, Brandi

 

[FxdGrMind]

Ok let's try this. It's covered in Ice from last winter....

 

[hankus]

Some ponds are hard earned and relect the skills of the builders, others like the one here built in my back yard by Mother Nature... could never be improved on. Good job on your handywork Brandi.

Hankus

 

[bindian]

Ok let's try this. It's covered in Ice from last winter....

FxdGrMind,
Looks like a nice place to visit in the winter. Where in the Pacific Northwest is this?
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

Some ponds are hard earned and relect the skills of the builders, others like the one here built in my back yard by Mother Nature... could never be improved on. Good job on your handywork Brandi.

Hankus

Hankus,
Okay, that is truly beautiful. After I visit FxdGrMind's pond, I will have to come by and see what God put in your backyard in person!
Thanks!
hugs, Brandi

 

[FxdGrMind]

It's in WA, near Olympia. I put the pond in to control the runnoff from the hill and then enlarged and put in the ditch along the tree line to feed it. Right to left feeding the pond.
The Hopps Row (not in picture) is now paralell that line.. should be Bountifull next year

 

[bindian]

Okay, it rained two days ago. Usually my driveway that curves around the back side of the dam is dry by two days. I have a little water and lots of mud in the driveway at the center of the curve by the dam. I flagged two wet spots about 2 & 1/2 feet from the top of the dam, but can not find any water seepage now. I then pulled the flagged stakes out of the dam and the hole didn't take on water. I opened the faucet I put in to fill a stock tank (about 30 feet past the driveway and about 5 feet lower than full pond level) to lower the level to dry that area out and bentonite it. Then closed it thinking if it was still seeping I should see water trying to bubble out when I raked mud aside with my boot. What do y'all think? Oh yeah.......the dam is core trenched and only 3 feet high. Should I build it up for more mass?
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

With 3-5 inches of rain coming tomorrow and the backside of the dam still being wet this afternoon, I decided to bite the bullet and open the faucet to drain down the pond below the overflow pipe's concrete. I found good evidence of seeps about 1 & 1/2 feet below the top of the dam. Sadness prevails.
hugs, Brandi

 

[FxdGrMind]

Say it isn't so!!!!!

Hmmm... now how do you fix the dam??

 

[FxdGrMind]

Hops row next to the full pond, Spring 2009.

 

[FxdGrMind]

As a thought... How high above full pool is your Pond? and what is the slope/run on the back side. I'm thinking that the "Gravitational" energy of the full pool is overwhelming the top of your dam in the form of seepage.

I was looking through this thread at your build on page 1. what do you have for a "Core" in your dam? I don't see from the images what it is.

Solution could be to add rock (weight) then gravel, then dirt on top of your dam then re-seal with Lime. But you may need to drain it to manage the fix.

Or maybe the Core of Engineers has a web site with helpfull info... haven't checked that thought yet.

My pond above is simple as I's a natural depression just enlarged, I rebuild my outlett every year as it washes away with the winter flooding rains...
If you look at the full pool in the last picture it's overflowing slightly but it does what it was intended to do and that is to mitigate the majority of the flooding water from the hillside.

 

[bindian]

As a thought... How high above full pool is your Pond? and what is the slope/run on the back side. I'm thinking that the "Gravitational" energy of the full pool is overwhelming the top of your dam in the form of seepage.

I was looking through this thread at your build on page 1. what do you have for a "Core" in your dam? I don't see from the images what it is.

Solution could be to add rock (weight) then gravel, then dirt on top of your dam then re-seal with Lime. But you may need to drain it to manage the fix.

Or maybe the Core of Engineers has a web site with helpfull info... haven't checked that thought yet.

My pond above is simple as I's a natural depression just enlarged, I rebuild my outlett every year as it washes away with the winter flooding rains...
If you look at the full pool in the last picture it's overflowing slightly but it does what it was intended to do and that is to mitigate the majority of the flooding water from the hillside.

The dam is cored with clay. I think if I get more weight on it, it will settle just fine. Kind of like filling in a hole. It never really gets packed good until it rains good, even if you pack it in with your front tires.
The open faucet drained it down about 8 inches. It rained last night, but I do not see any new signs of seepage. I am hoping it just needs to settle and set itself in place.
hugs, Brandi
hugs, Brandi

 

[FxdGrMind]

So I take it that the water seepage was "above" the clay core level of the dam?

You may be right it needs time to settle, but a little lower water level will ease the pressure and maybe another layer of "Weight" on top might be helpfull to compress the core.

I notice that the dams built by the army core of engineers usually have large rocks as the final layer on the natural dams and that may be just why. Helps errosion and compression of the dams structure.

Good to hear that it's not leaking today!

 

[bindian]

So I take it that the water seepage was "above" the clay core level of the dam?

You may be right it needs time to settle, but a little lower water level will ease the pressure and maybe another layer of "Weight" on top might be helpfull to compress the core.

I notice that the dams built by the army core of engineers usually have large rocks as the final layer on the natural dams and that may be just why. Helps errosion and compression of the dams structure.

Good to hear that it's not leaking today!

FxdGrMind,
The core trench is below grade and designed to lock the dam in position, so it will can withstand "shear" loads of the water pressure physically trying to move the dam.
I am convinced now I need more mass over the dam where it is seeping.
The rock is rip rap and designed to keep wave action from eating the dam away.
but a little lower water level will ease the pressure.........this is why I opened the faucet. It is open now as this afternoon had 3/4 inch of rain. I don't see any signs of seepage on the backside of the dam.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I saw minnows in the water by the culvert in the middle of my pasture today. So I got out my minnow trap and baited it with bread. Imagine my surprise when I hoisted it out of the water and found 15 or 16 perch about 2 & 1/2 inches long. I might have done wrong, but I put them in Lake Marie, along with two minnows that were in the trap.
hugs, Brandi

 

[EddieWalker]

Were those fish that came out of Lake Marie? or were these just some strange fish that wondered out into your pasture? Only in Texas would I type that and not think it was unusual to catch fish in the pasture. hahaha

Eddie

 

[bindian]

Were those fish that came out of Lake Marie? or were these just some strange fish that wondered out into your pasture? Only in Texas would I type that and not think it was unusual to catch fish in the pasture. hahaha

Eddie

Eddie,
Hehehe. I have a ditch in the middle of the place draining into the gully. I have a 2 foot diameter culvert there. It drains my low spot when it rains. I tend to stay away from the dark water inside the culvert, as I saw a water moccasin go into it the other day. There has been water there since summer. All kinds of birds come there to water and wash and catch crayfish. One of those birds had some fish eggs acting as stow aways and got left when the bird washed and preened. It's as simple as that.
hugs, Brandi