Swamp Excavating, prices?

[Tororider]

I am looking to have our swamp excavated into a pond, or at least part of it, probably a 150x200 area. Deepest area would be 15'. Wondering if anyone has experience with pricing in this so I can have an idea on estimates I get. Or if there is anyone around here that does it, I would be interested in prices.

 

[john_bud]

Talk to the DNR first. They may get grumpy, and the cost to remove the swamp dirt could seem really really small compared to the cost of putting it back the way it was and being fined for destruction of precious wet lands.

For straight excavating, figure 125-150 per hour for a large tracked excavator, probably a delivery fee of 3-500?. Probably need to have a second machine like a mid size dozer to move the piles. Figure $75-100 an hour for that. So, $200 -250 an hour x 8 hours or 1600 - 2000 a day.

 

[michiglenn]

I wanted the same size pond dug from a swampy area. I showed the area to a few excavators, and they all said the same thing (with a smirk); "Hire a drag-line". The biggest problem with any excavation of that size is the removal of spoils. An excavator also can't operate in soupy muck. They can get seriously stuck from suction of the undercarriage. And the deeper they dig the more fluid it gets. Then they can't stack up the spoils in piles for later removal; it is like trying to stack gravy on a plate. I believe a drag-line may be your best solution.

 

[BarryinMN]

Call up a General Contractor. They may excavate for free for the spoil to sell for landscaping during the Summer months.

Wait until Winter & excavate while frozen. Simple clean & fast.

Soil & Water got an engineered slope to depth, GC got dirt & neighbor got a duck pond.

 

[Tororider]

I had thought about a dragline, but an excavator can get into smaller areas, and hopefully with their planks they should be able to get into the swamp far enough.

There is a service around that has a 70' reach arm excavator that digs ponds, so I am hoping to get them out to take a look.

I am hoping to be able to spread the spoils around the edge of the pond so as to make a more solid base around it so it would be less swampy.

I have heard both ways, some suggest getting it done and asking for forgiveness later, which some people say is cheaper anyways, but if I had my druthers I would get the permits first. The way I figure it I would be enhancing it, by adding more space for waterfowl. And fishing would be an added bonus.