Pond Questions

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I am considering damming a hollow about 200-250 feet wide to make a pond. I want the depth at the dam to be 10-12 feet. This is obviously a fairly large project that could be pretty costly. I obviously don't want to spend a lot of money and end up with a dry hole. I have never built a pond before so I'm a novice. Can an "expert" look at my proposed pond site and with a high degree of certainty tell me that it will hold water? If done correctly, can most any site be made to hold water? As I said, the last thing I need is a dry hole that set me back several thousand dollars.

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am considering damming a hollow about 200-250 feet wide to make a pond. I want the depth at the dam to be 10-12 feet. )</font>

You should be able to find people/companies that build ponds in your area. I would start by checking with some excavation companies. If they don't do it themselves, they'll probably be able to tell you who does.

Since you're going to dam up a hollow (as opposed to digging), you'll probably have to check local and/or state regulations. They'll have regulations on the depth allowed as well as the construction of the dam itself (material as well as thickness). You and they will want to assure it can withstand the water pressure. What's downstream? You/they may have concerns if the dam ever did break.

Brian

 

[PineRidge]

Might recommend getting someone in there with a mini excavator to do a bit of digging first to find out if your soil conditions are right for a pond. In our case it was a matter of relocating clay found on our acreage to assist in the building of the dam as well as lining the basin.

Without that clay our project would not have been possible. An engineer that can read the soil conditions is your best bet IMO.

 

[EddieWalker]

Making sure the soil will hold water is really an important issue. I know a guy who has sand on his place, but tried to do the same thing by mixing a small amount of clay with his sand. It holds water for a few days, then it's empty again. It's a huge eye sore that takes up a good portion of his yard. If you do it, don't go cheap like he did.

Another consideration is water shed. How much water comes down the hill to your pond location. There is a formula for how many acres you need of water shed per acre of pond that will determine how well it will work for you.

Check www.pondboss.com


They are the specialty site on ponds, like this site is for tractors.

Eddie

 

[MMM]

Your USDA man will come out and bore holes for soil assessment, free. If you have stock, they'll pay part of costs. If there is deemed an erosion problem, they'll pay 75% through the EQUIP program. I had a small ravine that was dammed 265' across for $2,500 my costs.

 

[ronbo3]

Before I had my pond dug, I talked with the area Soil and Water Conservation Service. It's a US government agency with offices all over the country. Their man came out and gave me accurate info on where to put the pond as well as a list of local contractors who do pond construction/excavating. Best thing was that it was absolutely free---well, not if you count paying taxes............. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Egon]

As per other suggestions:

Contact the governing agencies for information and help. They may have basic dam plans available and there may be a chance of financial aid under certain circumstances depending on your location.

Egon

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Thanks for the replies. I'll contact the local NRCS office and see what they think.

 

[sparkkky]

Met with a NRCS man today and he thinks we have a great site in a bottom full of willow tree's with a creek across the fence. He said he did not need to core, he could tell by looking.

 

[MMM]

No way I would sink that kind of money into a pond without core sample. Clay can run in bands of only a few inches with water sand underneath. The thick layer of clay could be another 12 to 15' down under that and be uneconomical to core trench for the dam.