Deere Dude
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So how big is the pond? I didn't see the size anyplace.
Need help - emptying pond
- Thread starter tractorshopper
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jaxs
Elite Member
"Clean water" is subjective. In this case clean mean's there's no large solid objects such as sticks or plants floating in the water. Trash pumps are always rated for size objects it will handle,commonly up to 2".
OP
tractorshopper
Veteran Member
I did some calcs one time and came up with about a tenth of an acre. Certainly not a big pond. About 80' across in each direction or so, mostly circular. about 8.5' at the deepest spot, but not much that deep.
right now with the work I've already done, it's about 2.5-3 feet below full. Got a big storm last night, but of course it just ran right out of the cut I made, so at least it won't get any fuller in the meantime. With all the possible hurricane paths and aftermath type storms, I may need to wait a couple weeks before planning any further work.
If a sump pump will drain a pool overnight, that may be what I need to try here. It's probably about a normal pool worth of water left in it at this point because even though it's more surface than a normal pool, it's graduated with the depth and no deep end per se.
right now with the work I've already done, it's about 2.5-3 feet below full. Got a big storm last night, but of course it just ran right out of the cut I made, so at least it won't get any fuller in the meantime. With all the possible hurricane paths and aftermath type storms, I may need to wait a couple weeks before planning any further work.
If a sump pump will drain a pool overnight, that may be what I need to try here. It's probably about a normal pool worth of water left in it at this point because even though it's more surface than a normal pool, it's graduated with the depth and no deep end per se.
civilian
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Where is this water draining to? Is there a stream or creek involved? Locals may have something to say about draining into a stream. If it is just draining onto your property, maybe you can keep cutting your drain slit deeper every few days. Jon
CalG
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If you wait it out, the water cutting over the top will reset the original water way.
It takes work to keep water back. Quite the work, nature will take it's course. Wait until all these storms pass and see what's left.
Or rent a ditch Witch for the day
It takes work to keep water back. Quite the work, nature will take it's course. Wait until all these storms pass and see what's left.
Or rent a ditch Witch for the day
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tractorshopper
Veteran Member
Jon,
On the back side of my dam, I have a very wide gradual slope for about 150', then the water will hit a run-off gully that runs about 1/3 mile through thick woods to a very large pond. I doubt what little I have in my pond if running through a large pump would even make it to that pond before being absorbed. It takes a heck of a rain to get anything going into my pond to begin with which I cut into the natural runoff path I just described. I can't cut the slit any deeper without a ditch witch or backhoe for quite a long run because I already took it down to what was/is the natural/original grade. The rest of the water in it is basically the bowl I dug out.
Cal, I will definitely wait out these storms now since Irma is turning up now. We will get residual storms if not some decent brunt of it depending on how it plays out. I'll wait until all that is past, then come back to it. For now, the cut in the dam will just let the normal runoff I get go straight through, kind of like it used to before I built the pond. I went to TS last night and looked at trash pumps. I've asked around and no one I know has one. I can buy one for 250 and another 100 in hoses I guess. Maybe I'll sell on Craig's list afterward, but in meantime, I'm looking on Craigslist.
On the back side of my dam, I have a very wide gradual slope for about 150', then the water will hit a run-off gully that runs about 1/3 mile through thick woods to a very large pond. I doubt what little I have in my pond if running through a large pump would even make it to that pond before being absorbed. It takes a heck of a rain to get anything going into my pond to begin with which I cut into the natural runoff path I just described. I can't cut the slit any deeper without a ditch witch or backhoe for quite a long run because I already took it down to what was/is the natural/original grade. The rest of the water in it is basically the bowl I dug out.
Cal, I will definitely wait out these storms now since Irma is turning up now. We will get residual storms if not some decent brunt of it depending on how it plays out. I'll wait until all that is past, then come back to it. For now, the cut in the dam will just let the normal runoff I get go straight through, kind of like it used to before I built the pond. I went to TS last night and looked at trash pumps. I've asked around and no one I know has one. I can buy one for 250 and another 100 in hoses I guess. Maybe I'll sell on Craig's list afterward, but in meantime, I'm looking on Craigslist.
oosik
Epic Contributor
I have a 2" Honda heavy duty commercial trash pump - WT20. It pumps - 185gpm or around 11,000 gph. I use it almost every year to empty a pond that forms at the end of my driveway. Had it now for 17 years and it works like a champ.
This year the pond was ENORMOUS - took 75+ hours of continuous pumping to eliminate the pond - approximately 850,000 gallons.
This year the pond was ENORMOUS - took 75+ hours of continuous pumping to eliminate the pond - approximately 850,000 gallons.
CincyFlyer
Veteran Member
I have a HF 3" trash pump, which works just fine. I've sucked the goo off the bottom of a swimming pool that hadn't been used in years, no problems. If you were close, I'd sell it to you cheap!
rekees4300
Elite Member
What are you planning to do with the tons of muck?
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tractorshopper
Veteran Member
My basic plan is to literally go in reverse of how I built it. Take the spoils that I built the dam from and fill the hole back up by dismantling the dam one bucket-full at a time basically making a reverse ramp from the outside edge in. Only difference is that I built it with my L3800 with tooth bar that had a much larger bucket capacity than my BX2380. Gonna take a lot longer in reverse. Also, because the BX is so much lighter, it takes longer to "dig" into the dam even with it having a tooth bar to get a full scoop. I packed the dam by driving over it with the L3800 in about 4" lifts. It's hard as a rock now.
Oosik, sounds like trash pump is my best option.
Cincy, I didn't even think about HF. We actually have one of them in the closest city now, so I should go look there as well. I've only been in there once.
