POND????

[Anonymous Poster]

I need dirt now and a pond later, but ...

Our property is generally very level and drains well, but there are a couple of areas at the entry from the main road that need some general fill and grading. We will have a 500ft x8 ft driveway that will need about 6" of fill before we add base and surfacing, and finally, I want to add 8" to 12" of fill where the pole barn will sit.

I've talked to some local excavators - they sometimes haul dirt to your site for free just to get rid of it, but it does not look like they'll be showing up anytime soon, and I'm thinking that we will eventually be digging a pond and we know where we want it. So ... is it feasible to use the tractor and 5' box blade to start ripping down and scraping the future pond area?

This would give me dirt to work with and would also give a start on laying out the pond area. I don't mind taking the time to scrape layers of soil, then using the FEL to move it - I realize it's not a dozer, but that's OK.

We also realize that this area would be a mudhole for a while, but our son and his 4-wheeler would not mind, I'm sure. Mainly, it's a source of free dirt that I need now.

Your advice is appreciated - is this feasible?

 

[dourobob]

For what it is worth you might find it easier to have someone come in with a dozer and scrape off any topsoil so it can be stockpiled before you start to play. I'd be thinking that you would want the gravel (hopefully thats what is underneath) for your laneway and the base for your barn.

Good luck - sounds like lots of tractor time ahead.

Douro Bob

 

[gmason]

While it would be do-able with that kind of equipment, you would rack up a lot of hours trying to move that much dirt with just the loader and box.
Especially if it gets wet and heavy.

We had a 600' drive and I've moved mulch up and down it, and the time it takes to go the distance and spread it for the few cubic feet of soil would be hard to justify.

But on the other hand if you've got time on your hands and plenty of diesel fuel..go for it.


good luck and post some picutes of your progress
gary

 

[gerard]

One problem I see is after you start your excavation and you get a rain, you're going to have a shallow pond and won't be able to work again if/until it dries up. I would consider hiring an excavator (with an operator 800-1000/day), digging the pond and just have him pile the spoils. If you want a lot of tractor time you can then move the spoil piles with the loader. (Scraping off the top soil for later use is also a good idea).

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Nick,
I tried the same thing last year and I would not recommend doing it. I got about 3 to 4 feet down in a small area and the hole would fill up in a day or two because of the water table in this area of Texas. I gave up after a couple of days and rented a track-hoe and a dozer and dug my pond in two days.
The way I did it was I hired a dump truck for a day at $35 per hour and had him dump the dirt where I wanted it (way better than pushing it.) then spread it with the dozer.
Total Cost:
Komatsu PC200 Track-Hoe 2 days at $450 per day $900
Dresser TD7 Dozer 2 days at $220 per day $440
Dump Truck and driver 12 hours at $35 per hour $420
Delivery charges, taxes, fuel $600
Total $2360

The bids I received ranged from $1.75 to $3.00 per cubic yard to dig my pond I did it for less than .50 per cubic yard.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

A better picture

 

[DarinRay]

Nice job you did there Mr350. I just wish the pics were a little more clear but they made the point. Now that's some nice equipment you got to run and rent. I just tried to rent a big excavator and without contractor's insurance the local rental yard doesn't let the average home owner do it anymore. They said they have lost alot of business that way and I can see why. Boy talk about ruining a person's day when I found that out. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif Oh well nice job you did there.

I wouldn't suggest doing it with nothing else but a excavator and dozer or just one. But you sure woudl get some seat time doing it with boxblade and loader. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif


Darin

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks to all of you for your advice - I think I'll listen to it and go for a bigger piece of equipment to do the job. There's a few small operators around here that I think I can hire for a day or so to get the pond dug and pile the spoils where I can get to them.
Mr350 - that's almost exactly what I had in mind - thanks for the pictures.
I forgot about the water table - which was the main reason the county is requiring an aerobic system - very shallow. Your comments made me realize that I would be fighting water the whole time I'd be scraping. I much prefer the idea that in a couple of days I can have the hole dug and then have some fill dirt available.
Thanks also for posting the general costs - it helps to know what somebody else has paid as a comparison.
Great place to ask questions before I get in over my head - wait a minute, I forgot - I'm already in over my head /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif!

 

[mrcaptainbob]

That is a great job. And thanks for the price list. Always helps in decision making. What was the final size of your pond? How deep did you have them go? And finally, (gees, like that's not enough /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif) was there a 'plan' to guide you on how steep to make the sides? Thanks for your help........

 

[Anonymous Poster]

What was the final size of your pond?
The pond is 100' X 85' and I wish I had gone bigger.
How deep did you have them go?
Them? Them who... All work was done by me the prices listed are for equipment rental only.
And the pond ranges between 8' and 16'.

the local rental yard doesn't let the average home owner do it anymore.
Bummer.
was there a 'plan' to guide you on how steep to make the sides?
No I just eyeballed it.
Nick, A few other tips. Cast the topsoil off to one side for latter use also save a few loads of clay (You'll have tons) to reline the pond.