Reconstruting a Pond.

[byaffe]

I am planning on cleaning out my pond. The pond was hand built in the 40's. Trees have grown up all around the pond dam.

Any advise you could give concerning the techniques I should use to reconstruct the pond would be greatly helpful.

 

[EddieWalker]

What are your goals for the pond? Bigger? Deeper? Or just clean it up?

Draining and waiting for it to dry out is going to be the cheapest way to go with the best results, but it's also takes the longest. If you have the time, drain it and wait until next summer to see if it's dry enough to work. Then depending on your goals, figure out how you want to haul the silt out of it. Once that's done, decide if you want to make it bigger and deeper.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[20 20]

I also agree draining is your best bet, but I don't think you'd have to wait a year before digging. If we did that up here no ponds would ever get done. I just did 1 of mine drained it and dug it down to 6' in less then 2 weeks. It does take some know how to work the dirt so that you can get in and dig out the muck, but once you get a start stick with it{very boring}. I am in the process of cleaning up another 1 only needed to drain it about half way, cutting banks back. We have gotten rain allmost every single day of this summer so if I wait for it to dry up I'd never get it done. I'm not knocking letting it dry if you have the time and the right weather, but up here it is not an option. Another thing that may help you is to either rent an excavator{fun to operate, just be safe} or find a friend that has 1. Nothing beats an excavator for pond digging except a good operater on an excavator. But even a guy with some common sense and safe operating skills will do a fine job.

Find a pump/hoses sometimes cheaper to buy then rent????
figure out what type of machinery you can get a hold of???
figure out if you'll have help, can help to have 2 operators one on a ex/BH and one on a tractor dozer etc to move dirt away.
MOST IMPORTANT !!! figure out what you'll be doing with the dirt, hardest part of pond work.
Last but not least time!!

keep us updated on your progess.

 

[byaffe]

What are your goals for the pond? Bigger? Deeper? Or just clean it up?

Draining and waiting for it to dry out is going to be the cheapest way to go with the best results, but it's also takes the longest. If you have the time, drain it and wait until next summer to see if it's dry enough to work. Then depending on your goals, figure out how you want to haul the silt out of it. Once that's done, decide if you want to make it bigger and deeper.

Good luck,
Eddie

This is a small pond (50' X50') My goal for the pond is to have a sitting area also water a couple of calf's and deer. Also the pond appears to be a wet weather pond and often dries up in the summer. I want to stop that if possible.

I am going to get the pond pumped out using a trash pump. I was planning on cutting some of the trees on the bank off to ground level with a chain saw. (Do I need to dig the root balls out?) Can I use the silt in the pond bank?

I will post pictures as soon as possible.

Thank you all for your help!

Barry

 

[byaffe]

I also agree draining is your best bet, but I don't think you'd have to wait a year before digging. If we did that up here no ponds would ever get done. I just did 1 of mine drained it and dug it down to 6' in less then 2 weeks. It does take some know how to work the dirt so that you can get in and dig out the muck, but once you get a start stick with it{very boring}. I am in the process of cleaning up another 1 only needed to drain it about half way, cutting banks back. We have gotten rain allmost every single day of this summer so if I wait for it to dry up I'd never get it done. I'm not knocking letting it dry if you have the time and the right weather, but up here it is not an option. Another thing that may help you is to either rent an excavator{fun to operate, just be safe} or find a friend that has 1. Nothing beats an excavator for pond digging except a good operater on an excavator. But even a guy with some common sense and safe operating skills will do a fine job.

Find a pump/hoses sometimes cheaper to buy then rent????
figure out what type of machinery you can get a hold of???
figure out if you'll have help, can help to have 2 operators one on a ex/BH and one on a tractor dozer etc to move dirt away.
MOST IMPORTANT !!! figure out what you'll be doing with the dirt, hardest part of pond work.
Last but not least time!!

keep us updated on your progess.

I am going to try to do all the work with my JD 3032 E. I know getting a bigger machine would make the job totally easier, faster and maybe better. However funds don't allow it and plus I am on a quest to learn and do it all myself with my small lil tractor.

Thank you for your replay and sharing your experience!

 

[IslandManMitch]

Do not disturb the roots on the dam. Doing so may cause it to leak.

 

[whitedogone]

Tordon® RTU specialty herbicide

 

[ddivinia]

I would just wait for it to dry up next summer and get after it with a track hoe or dozer. What is your budget? Do you know what kind of soil you have? Maybe it needs to be lined. The trees on the edge could be cut or pulled out.

How about some pics?

Are you worried about loosing any fish, etc?

D.