My Pond Project

[EddieWalker]

I need to get all that done in the next 3 months.

A least you've given yourself plenty of time and won't be under any preasure. hahahahahahaha

OK, so three months is almost nothing in time, but with all that you've accomplished, I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. The bridge sounds like the most fun to me, but it's all the type of stuff that I enjoy doing and will enjoy seeing pictures of. The best thing about your thread is all the great pictures your take!!! Thanks.

I like the layout and how it all ties together. Everything fits and has a natural look to it, even though it looks like you've changed just about everything, you are doing such a great job that it's going to look like it's always been there when you are done. I was at a guys place a few weeks ago and everything he's done jumps out at you as man-made. His dame is almost perfectly strait and flat with very steep slopes. He's having trouble mowing it because it's so steep. I didn't tell him it's also ugly because it looks so man made, but it's all you see when you look at his pond site.

Eddie

 

[ETD66SS]

Yeah, I was a bit disappointed when my brother wanted an oval pond, and not some type of natural looking shape, but it did not turn out a perfect oval, so looks decent...

 

[ETD66SS]

What kind of grass seed should I get for my island & banks?

I want to get that planted soon. As a reminder, I'm in New York.

 

[EddieWalker]

What kind of grass seed should I get for my island & banks?

I want to get that planted soon. As a reminder, I'm in New York.

Don't know a thing about your area for plants or grass, but I've spent some time at Seedland.com: Seeds - Lawns comparing different types and what they do in my area. Might be worth looking into, or at least to get an idea of what's available.

And my local extension has a website that's been great of local plants and what works in our soils. They do tests too!!!! Have you looked them up to see if they have a website?

Good luck, but if you do nothing, the local grass's will take over anyway. It's just a matter of time.

Eddie

 

[ETD66SS]

The county conservationist gave me 2 options:

1. Creeping red fescue (20 lbs/acre)
Tall fescue or smooth bromegrass (20 lbs/acre)
Birdsfoot trefoil (8 lbs/acre)

2. Creeping red fescue (20 lbs/acre)
Redtop (2 lbs/acre)
perennial rye grass (5 lbs/acre)

 

[ETD66SS]

I took last week off from work.

I was able to get the banks of both ponds lined with clay, and also get a bit of landscaping done.

I only have the land bridge to the island left to hog out.

I need to get the pilings for the deck & bridge put in before I remove that last bit of dirt.

Here are a bunch of pictures:

etd66ss's photos. Get free image hosting at ImageCave.com - free image hosting at ImageCave.com

 

[Illinois Boy]

I was just reading through ... nice project ... handy to have all that equipment.

Does the county conservationist offer engineering advice, or what? I'm looking more at rolling hills, so would concentrate more on enough soil for a dam, and the ground holding the water where my creek runs through. I suppose with a big dam and proper soil conditions, I could have 15 acres of lake ... way beyond my abilities though, but that is the dream.

You sure moved a lot of earth ... nice place ...

 

[ETD66SS]

Does the county conservationist offer engineering advice, or what?

That probably depends on where you are. The conservationist I talked to gave me minimal advice on actual construction.

You would just have to talk to your county conservationist. They could either provide you the info, or provide you with the name of a civil engineering firm who you would then have to pay to design your pond.

Luckily, where my lot is, there are very few restrictions. It really all depends on your local conservation laws...

 

[EddieWalker]

The shoreline looks great. Once int fills up and the grass fills in, it will look amazing.

That bridge will be the fun project that I'm looking forward to seeing. Especially what you use for supports and how you tie it into the ground on either side.

Eddie

 

[ETD66SS]

It's going to be very simple, in the end it will just look like a 50 ft long dock.

Two 8" sonotube pilings on either shore, and 6" diameter steel pipe supports sticking out of the water, the base of them embedded in 55 gallon drum forms filled with concrete, sitting on the glacial till layer and backfilled with clay.

I don't want any railings on it, as my land is flat and that takes away the scenery behind the bridge.

I hope to get the concrete work done soon so I can dig the land bridge out before the pond starts filling up.

There will be no elaborate truss work. Just 4 large timber beams spanning 24 ft each, with boards on top. Just like a dock really...

I know it does not sound fancy, but that's what I plan to do.