small pond question????

[LD1]

I was mucking out the creek back in the woods and got a hair brained idea I thought I'd run past you guys.

There is an area in the woods void of trees, and always lays wet/mucky. Maybe a 30x30 or 30x40 area. I am thinking about just digging it out 5 or 6 foot deep and making it a small pond.

My hopes are it will catch any small fish that get washed down stream and possibly attract more deer to the area, as the entire creek dries up (normally by now) through spring.

But I have some concerns. How does a small pond like this fair with no aeration, and over the winter?? Would I be wasting my time?

The area cannot really be used for anything else. It won't sustain trees, and is difficult to maintain. I figure roughly 1000 sq ft @ 5ft average depth is in the neighborhood of 200 yds. I can dig about 100/hr and with getting rid of piles I don't see it taking more than a half day to 1 day to try.

So...thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions?

 

[LD1]

Here's the area

 

[dondc]

I will be interested in your progress as I am planning a similar project.

 

[Larro Darro]

It can be done. But it might not be legal. You should check online about digging in or near a wetland. But if you do it, post pictures. We won't tell anyone.

 

[LD1]

Its not wetlands. Its just an area in the woods that never seems to dry out:laughing:

A few years ago, I ditched it, and added some dirt from the nearby hillside. It helped dry it out, but now I am thinking I would like a nice watering hole for deer.

A few years ago, I was mowing ALOT more back in the woods, and thinning things out. Now, I have let more of it go to nature and more "animal" friendly. Mostly because I got tired of mowing

 

[Biggreenavalanche]

I'd go to 8'...you should not have any problems...looks like a nice area for a shady little pond...

Edit: try a forum called Pond Boss Magazine: Welcome great forum and very knowledgable folks !

 

[murphy1244]

Without any water movement it will turn into green slime on the top.

 

[mjw357]

Without circulation, it will just be a skeeter farm. Not good for fish so much, but it will attract other wildlife.

 

[JeffTerry]

your water ditch (creek) you have to think about how much water flows thru this ditch. dig your pond deep enough, make sure you lay rock big rock in your ditch prior to it dumping into your pond. kind of like a French drain but not quite that way. You have to preuevent sludge filing in your pond promptly from this ditch. second you should make sure you either pipe your dam or the low area of the pond for an overflow. third, I see a lot of trees, this will cause algea growth quickly, take some trees out so it gets plenty of light. Fish, you want to wait about a year then find you some grass carp to eat the algea growth, about three should do. if they are at least 10 lb grass carp, blue cat, hybrid blue gill

 

[JeffTerry]

if your worried about skeeters, by an aerator to move the water