Pond dredging

mikester · 2025-08-03T12:11:47-0400

Looking for ideas here on dredging

I have an old pond that is all silted up. At one time was 4-6' deep, approx 150 long by 120 feet wide. Rumoured to have quicksand in places, spring fed and would be nearly impossible to pump dry to stick a machine in the muck/silt. Only accessible along the 150' side.

Dragline? Amphibious Excavator?

ponytug · 2025-08-03T12:28:13-0400

Where in Canada are you? There are parts of Canada where barges/aquatic excavators are more common, but I can't see that as being cheap, but location is everything.

How much sand/silt is in the pond now? i.e. What amount of excavation are we talking about, and what is the goal?

Assuming you can square any regulatory concerns, the inability to pump dry cuts both ways; you might be able to use trash pumps to excavate the silt and sand, and perhaps it isn't as large a flow as rumored. That would be a fair amount of work.

What is on the other side from the 150' edge that makes it inaccessible? Would a corduroy road be possible? A 150' dragline crane would be enormous, heavy, and hard on the perimeter, but they do exist. 60-75' excavators are more common.

All the best,

Peter

mikester · 2025-08-03T12:54:51-0400

ponytug said:
Where in Canada are you? There are parts of Canada where barges/aquatic excavators are more common, but I can't see that as being cheap, but location is everything.

How much sand/silt is in the pond now? i.e. What amount of excavation are we talking about, and what is the goal?

Assuming you can square any regulatory concerns, the inability to pump dry cuts both ways; you might be able to use trash pumps to excavate the silt and sand, and perhaps it isn't as large a flow as rumored. That would be a fair amount of work.

What is on the other side from the 150' edge that makes it inaccessible? Would a corduroy road be possible? A 150' dragline crane would be enormous, heavy, and hard on the perimeter, but they do exist. 60-75' excavators are more common.

All the best,

Peter

Southern Ontario. Figure 4' of muck for about 1/2+ acre pond. Backing on wetland so getting permission would be nearly impossible for mere mortals. The cheapest option would be to cut down all the trees on 3 sides and get a long reach excavator to dump the spoil on top - but those good'ol days are long gone.