new pond
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The dozer guy packed each layer of about 1' of clay before adding any more, then packed the topcoat of topsoil. I started to boxblade the dam smoother but was afraid I'd just loosen it where it might wash. I had him pile up the leftover clay that wasn't used in the dam so I could use it elsewhere later....
I have a mountain to move with the little iseki now.
According to my sight level the bottom is about 10'-11' to the spillway and the dam is about 2 1/2' above that. I plan to smooth out the yard around it this weekend and put down bermuda seed.
There is a large oak tree on the point we left sticking out into the pond. Once I clear out around it I plan to have a picnic table and some chairs, and possibly a small dock. I have some st augustine grass that I have been cultivating for plugging the yard that I will put down around the picnic area.
I have a mountain to move with the little iseki now.
According to my sight level the bottom is about 10'-11' to the spillway and the dam is about 2 1/2' above that. I plan to smooth out the yard around it this weekend and put down bermuda seed.
There is a large oak tree on the point we left sticking out into the pond. Once I clear out around it I plan to have a picnic table and some chairs, and possibly a small dock. I have some st augustine grass that I have been cultivating for plugging the yard that I will put down around the picnic area.
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Robert_in_NY
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It depends on your area. We had an excavator dig ours because it was all swamp where we put the pond and the only thing the dozer did was try to keep up with the excavator to clear the dirt away from the pond. A good excavator operator can out work a dozer for digging a pond but if you are digging a large pond the excavator will run out of room to set the overburden and be stuck moving it twice, while the dozer just keeps pushing each blade load to where it wants to. A small pond like your talking you can go either way but a dozer is probally the easiest way if you are going to do it yourself. But if you are digging in muck a dozer will just sit there till someone pulls it out.
My little iseki is really earning it's keep lately. Today I put topsoil and st augustine grass on the picnic area of the pond.Then I started removing the loose clay inside the pond, a lot of loose clay.
Sorry, no new pics today, barely had time to eat anything.
Final dimensions look like it's about 150' x 100' or so.
Does anyone know if ryegrass is ok for the inside area while I wait on some water.I have bermuda grass seed for the dam.
Tomorrow I hope to get to the outside of the dam. I'll try to take a few new pics tomorrow too.
Sorry, no new pics today, barely had time to eat anything.
Final dimensions look like it's about 150' x 100' or so.
Does anyone know if ryegrass is ok for the inside area while I wait on some water.I have bermuda grass seed for the dam.
Tomorrow I hope to get to the outside of the dam. I'll try to take a few new pics tomorrow too.
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<font color="blue"> Does anyone know if ryegrass is ok for the inside area while I wait on some water. </font>
Interesting concept! I had not thought of that, as I have a spring that feeds my pond...are you planning on run off filling the pond?
I heard there is a pond up the road from me that is filled by rain run off only, but there are some steep hills near it to channel the water to it...do you get a lot of rain over your way?
Interesting concept! I had not thought of that, as I have a spring that feeds my pond...are you planning on run off filling the pond?
I heard there is a pond up the road from me that is filled by rain run off only, but there are some steep hills near it to channel the water to it...do you get a lot of rain over your way?
OK, I got some seat time this weekend.
I civilized the picnic area, removed all the loose clay from inside, smoothed things up {somewhat} and seeded the whole thing.
I hope the pond will fill by this fall with rains only. I know of a few spring fed ponds around, but they are the exception here. I have a pretty good hill behind the pond which is directed to drain to it, but I can add "wings" if needed. The dozer guy seemed to think I would get plenty of water by fall.
My ulterior motive for a pond is to water some lawn out of it and keep a few fish hopefully.
Water wells are almost impossible on my place it seems. I bought a DR Hydradrill and drilled three holes hoping to use one for lawn watering, only to come up with nothing. I have tried to get a water well driller to drill one for me, but he has stalled for almost a year now.I consulted a geologist recomended by the driller and he told me that my place was all on "Deese" formation which means "slim to none" as far as well odds go.
I have a big hole in my yard, so now it's not up to me.
Here's a before pic of the picnic area, I'll post an after pic next.
I civilized the picnic area, removed all the loose clay from inside, smoothed things up {somewhat} and seeded the whole thing.
I hope the pond will fill by this fall with rains only. I know of a few spring fed ponds around, but they are the exception here. I have a pretty good hill behind the pond which is directed to drain to it, but I can add "wings" if needed. The dozer guy seemed to think I would get plenty of water by fall.
My ulterior motive for a pond is to water some lawn out of it and keep a few fish hopefully.
Water wells are almost impossible on my place it seems. I bought a DR Hydradrill and drilled three holes hoping to use one for lawn watering, only to come up with nothing. I have tried to get a water well driller to drill one for me, but he has stalled for almost a year now.I consulted a geologist recomended by the driller and he told me that my place was all on "Deese" formation which means "slim to none" as far as well odds go.
I have a big hole in my yard, so now it's not up to me.
Here's a before pic of the picnic area, I'll post an after pic next.
