Pond dreaming is over

[philbuilt]

For many years I have been looking for water front property. So the story of my pond began. Labor day weekend 2005. The start of a pond began with tire rutts from my son four wheelling. The 1st pic is an aerial of the land and plan. #2 is the machine that I used. #3 is the deep spot about 15' at that time.
I know that I posted these pics on Eddies post but, I want to start here with the full story.

 

[WayneB]

Hey Phil you have a start and water is coming in already! Look forward to seeing more pictures and reading the progress story.

Wayne

 

[philbuilt]

Thanks Wayne,
Next is the piles of dirt. I started at low grade and removed the loam piling in a sort of center spot. With only 16 hrs of rental I wanted to dig as much as possible. pic #1 the loam pile, Pic #2 below grade dirt and start of the shape of the pond. #3 more dirt.#4 moving dirt starts.

 

[philbuilt]

Okay some shots of the pond filling. You may notice that some of the dirt has been smoothed out. The entire hole except was box graded and most of the edges I could drive up. We had about 2 dry week so I was able to grade alot.

 

[philbuilt]

More pond filling pics. and a picture of a rainbow in the back field.

 

[BTDT]

Nice looking pond you have in the works. Rainbow pic was great.

 

[EddieWalker]

Great pics and an amazing project. What I'm really wondering is what are you doing with all the dirt that's coming out of your pond? Getting rid of it is usually more work then digging it out!!!!

With those trees and hill in the background, it's gonna look amazing when it'd done. Thanks for sharing.

Eddie

 

[philbuilt]

BTDT, Thank you it's fun to look out the window and see the work in progress.

Eddie,
You are correct the dirt jus has to be spread out. I am currently working on the back side of the pond. (the wooded edge) I have been pushing into the woods on the right side. (faceing the woods) the goal is to raise grade by 2' or so. The right side of the pond the grade from natural to the wood s is about a 3' differance. Last summer I spent putting a gravel road to the pond so there wasn't much change. Oct. 06 I bought a taylor-way Bh for the massey.and started putting rocks along the edge of the pond. This will allow me to raise and level grade down and back to the woods. My hope is the water will run away from the pond into the woods to a retention pond that I will build. The soil is a clay silt so the goal for the retention pond is to be all gravel to create a filter. A few pics showing the dirt going into the woods.
I'll post more later
Phil

 

[mike69440]

Where are all the car sized boulders like in NH? Looks like playsand. Your are lucky!

 

[philbuilt]

Mike,
I'm sad to say "No Rocks" I'm currently bringing them from the street. Its great for digging but not habitat. Thats why I want to make the gravel retention pond for silt filtration.
Phil

 

[philbuilt]

Okay i hope this helps to clearify my grade situation #1 pic. Pic#2 is the rocks that I'm adding to the sides of the pond I'm also widening before I place the rocks. The rocks are placed very random and it is intentional. When I was fishing in northern Maine at some remote ponds the shoreline was random and natural. So thats why its not stacked proper like a wall. The **** retentiveness is really trying to make me redo it. Last pic for today is two visitors Canadian geese. Last sping they stayed for about 2 months. It was raining so that shot is from the house 600' +-
Phil

 

[philbuilt]

I hope I can help in this area. The left side of the pond is the lowest grade. This is the area that I want to increase the grade by adding more dirt of coarse. I'm thinking that it could raise the water level in the spring and fall with the rain and snow melt from the hills. How big of a spillway should I put in? and should I put it up top neer the woods? The #1 pic you can see the snow next to the woods that is about 18" higher than the pond level now. Last summer the pond only went down in level by 4" or 5". There is and was no stream or brook down there just run off and now under ground spring feed. How wide should I dam it? I do realize that I need to remove the top soil and build slowly per your post on another thread. I do have plenty of clay and hope to have the dirt ready to be pushed in at the low level time of the year. (August) I think that I found someone to trade the loam pile for gravel. 800+- yrds.
they will haul. At that point I will rent the large excavator to double the size of the pond.

I aslo added a pic that I took 30mins. ago
Phil

 

[MaineBob]

Philbuilt,

Wow! I've been watching TBN (when I have a chance) for pond building info. I want to build something when funds allow. Anyway, most pond info is for down south and didn't seem too relevant for Maine. When I saw your posts, I thought ... finally someone who is trying this in Maine!

Any chance you are near Gray? I'm wondering if my soil will be similar to yours?

Nice job on the pond ... and nice pictures / posts as well.

So much for spring .... 12+" snow with this storm! ?? More time to play ... er, work with the tractor, I guess.

Bob

 

[philbuilt]

Mainebob,
I'm not sure where Gray is but I live in New Gloucester. I can't imagine that we are that far apart. LOL
Phil

 

[coopers]

Great job on the pond construction, I love pond construction posts and watching it develop over time. Can't wait to see more on your progress. It's amazing you are still getting so much snow. It was 80 here yesterday (which is rare for Western Washington this time of year) and our vegetation is in full bloom.

Blake
WA

 

[philbuilt]

Thanks coopers
The pond project will go on for years. It is the first part of my landscape plan . Things to come with time and money.
1- Pond sizes will double
2- A bridge to ge to the island
3- Maple trees going up the hill to the house.
4- sugar shack / camp for guest and grand children if we ever get some!
5- Small man made stream starting from house on the hill down to the pond ending with a water fall. Water will be pumped up from the pond via a wind mill power.
By the way I was just messing with MaineBob, Gray is the town next door we share school districts.
Current project has me working on my tractor so it will be ready for summer.

 

[EddieWalker]

Phil,

You got some great ideas for your pond. I'm looking forward to seeing the bridge and the stream. Those two projects should really be allot of fun.

Eddie

 

[philbuilt]

Eddie,
I'm not sure what i will use for the bridge i'm waiting to see what kind of scrap materials will hit the sign shop. I like the looks of rusted steel. and cedar.

Yesterday brought a new critter sighting at the pond. A muskrat, should I consider this a friend or foe?

 

[Steve_Miller]

Friend at that distance, foe if you get any closer.

Steve

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't know anything about Muskrats firsthand, but I've read and been told that they dig into dams. Anything that digs into the dam is a bad thing to have in your pond. If it was me, I'd kill it and any others you come across.

Eddie