Spring Water

[kawallace]

I have a spring that has no visible current but does seap from the ground. My question is how does one go about finding the source and digging a holding area. I would like to use this source of water for irrigation. Any and all suggestions and Wbe sites that can educate me on this subject would be apprecaited.
Thanks, Wally

 

[gerard]

I have that situation at the bottom of my property. The previous owner just dug a pond there and it used to be the water for the barn. I don't know if I have a true "Spring" though as it stops flowing mid summer unless we get some rain, then it starts again. You should just be able to dig a hold pond in the middle of the flow (unless you have really gravely soil. (Does it flow out on top of the ground and then keep flowing or do you just have a wet spot?

 

[kawallace]

The water flows year round, a steady trickle even during this summers dry period, over 40 days without rain....I dug a test hole 2 feet deep abd I have a good flow of water....was wondering if the pond should be rock lined, the area is mostly red clay.......
Wally

 

[gerard]

Hard to say just by reading a post but if you already have clay (which holds water well) and a steady flow you should have no problem building a pond and having it fill. The steady flow will help prevent stagnation and keep the water clear. You may want to consider diverting the flow around where you want the pond to go as you dig, then re-divert when done to fill. Otherwise you'll need a pump to keep water out of the excavation and you'll be working in mud all the time which is not easy.

 

[gordon]

Clay is perfect for holding the water in a pond and with a constant supply of water flowing sounds like you have the making of a pond to me. Now all you have to do is dig a hole./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

One thing to be careful of is in this area not to break through the clay layer or else your pond can dry out in summer months when you need the water the most. Here is a link for pond building http://www.aces.edu/department/extcomm/publications/anr/ANR-1114/anr-1114.htm here is another http://www.lrconline.com/buildingapond.htmland here is another http://www.netrax.net/~yccd/nrcs.htmOf all the links I believe this one gives the most informationhttp://www2.nrcs.usda.gov/nric/mgmt/ponds/intro.htm

Or you could always go and wander around your state site http://www2.nrcs.usda.gov/nric/mgmt/ponds/intro.htm

Hope this helps or gives you a start on your quest!!!
Gordon

 

[scruffy]

kawallace,
I just wanted to throw my two cents in here. Be very cautious, and work slowly when digging your pond/tank. Suggest you work solely on the downhill side of your spring, and always keep an eye on the flow. It is very easy to lose it by dislodging a stone or something subsurface and not be able to get it flowing again. Rarely happens, but I have known of such a spring being lost, happened at my Father-in-Laws place in NorthWestern California, and it is extremely hard to lose water there!

 

[Bird]

When I was only 11 years old, we had a small spring on our place in a rather deep and steep sided ravine so it was hard to get right down to the place the water came out of the ground. I decided to do a little digging, just with a shovel and put a barrel with both ends cut out into the hole so the spring would fill the barrel, then run over and down the ravine, I thought. I still don't know what happened, but I eliminated that spring and never had water there again./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Bird

 

[Billc]

Gordon,

Great sights you listed! Lots of good info on pond building. Thanks.

Bill Cook

 

[Keoke]

Gordon, don't know how you got these sites, but they are great.

thanks again,
george

 

[kawallace]

Gordon I have started the digging process, thanks for the info,,,, the sites you listed tell everything one needs to know about building a pond.I am using the USDA site as my guide. Will let you know how it all turns out. Wally