The Old Mill Pond of yesteryear...

Henro · Sep 13, 2003

Muskrats inhabit along and undermine the shoreline. I
had to dump about seven bags of small rock in the muskrat tunnels to bring the
lower end of the falls back up to even. .

Don,

I am not sure if it would work for you, or even if it really works at all...but this sure seems to. My neighbor told me years ago to keep my pond level close to the level of the ground on the low side. It seems that if the muskrats cannot tunnel in, and then up, to make a den without breaking out into open air, they will not bother the bank.

I have done this...and it seems to work nearly perfectly. I did have one determined bugger do some damage but he gave up, and I filled in where he had dug under the grass...actually just filled in from above...

Just a thought...seems to work if you can keep the ground level close to the pond level. Fortunately I can...my water level is about 4" below the ground level of the bank on the low side...

OkeeDon · Sep 13, 2003

Don, great fun. Your photography was great. In the initial shots, you lined it up well enough to make it look full size. Oh, sure, there were some little hints that it was to scale, but overall, you did a great job with your "story". It had to have been a labor of love.

ronjhall · Sep 14, 2003

Don
Nice project. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
You did this project without a tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Or does your TBN name mean you are looking for a new tractor? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Where in Southeast Michigan are you located? I am in the Milford area.

shoppintractors · Sep 14, 2003

Ron,

 Nice project. 
Thank You!
 You did this project without a tractor
Surely you Jest. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif It was the first project after the purchase of a Ford 1220 with a FEL. The pump house was a winter time project. (A Junior Henro project.) It's made from 2x6 redwood boards that were cut into 1/4" slats to make the siding. Then the following spring the tractor arrived and the creative juices started flowng. The 1220 has been sold recently and I am shoppin' for a new assistant. I'm in the Belleville area. Got a lot of ideas (and supplies) from www.grassrootsnursery.com They are located in New Boston.

Don

ronjhall · Sep 14, 2003

Don
I guess I was kidding because it sure looked like a perfect tractor project. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I have done quite a bit of shopping at Grass Roots for my pond. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
If you’re up this way and want to stop at another good Pond shop try the Pond Place.
Good luck in finding a new tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Slamfire · Sep 15, 2003

I think there is a career opportunity for you at Roadside America in Hamburg, PA. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

shoppintractors · Sep 15, 2003

Slamfire,

I always enjoyed visiting Sea World of Ohio (now it's Six Flags). They had these streams and waterfalls that circulate throughout the Park, fed from a lake that was on the property. They were my first inspiration years ago. I've always enjoyed the water. I've found working with water is quite intrigueing. Flowing water is forever changing but yet it remains the same.

Don

shoppintractors · Sep 15, 2003

Henro,

According to your description I have the perfect muskrat habitat. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif The pan fish are abundant (food source for the Muskrats?) right in the vicinity too. Very oxygenated water (attracting the fish) from the circulating water and shade from the tree that overhangs the water. I used to come across Blue Racer snakes (Blue Eraser as one of the neighboring kids calls them) in the grass but haven't seen one for quite some time. Something must be feeding on them? I livetrapped a muskcrat a few years ago but only was able to catch the one. They rest of them must of smarten'd up after the first one was caught? The raccoons seemed to find their way into the livetrap without a problem.

To all, any guestions/comments regarding the ponds or the critters are encouraged. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Don

ronjhall · Sep 15, 2003

Don
I’ll take you up on the offer to ask questions.

1. What are you using for a water source?

2. If it is from the large pond at the base of your falls. What are you using to keep the dirt out of the pump?

3. Do you get string algae in the falls?

4. Do the ponds turn green on you from algae?

shoppintractors · Sep 15, 2003

1. What are you using for a water source?
 The water is drawn from the Lake. Part of the Chain of Lakes along the Huron River system.
2. If it is from the large pond at the base of your falls. What are you using to keep the dirt out of the pump?

In previous years I fabricated a cage from wire fencing around the pump intake and wrapped 1" thick pond filter material. This year I was in a hurry to get the pump up and running and just put the rigid pvc intake into the lake. It sits up off the bottom. I failed to notice the screen on the check valve was off. Seaweed will plug the pump impeller. Don't ask me how I know. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif The lake is clay bottom and the water is generally cloudy. The sun couldn't penetrate the water so seaweed would not grow...until a few years ago when zebra mussels got introduced into the lake. Now they line the shorelines affixing themselves to the rocks. When the water passes over them they filter the water which greatly improves the clarity...which now allows the sun to penetrate the water and creates an environment for the seaweed to grow. I have a second submersible pump that supplies the upper pond, which I put in a 5 gallon bucket then submerse it. No problems with that one. The upper pond was added at a later date, thus the seperate pump. The sprinkler pump is plumbed to operate lawn sprinklers too.

 3. Do you get string algae in the falls?
4. Do the ponds turn green on you from algae?

When building the ponds, I installed drains in the bottom of all of them so I could easily drain the water. I leave the drains partially open, all the time. When I shut the power off to the ponds they automatically drain. This way I haven't had to deal with an algae issue. I never planned to keep fish in the ponds so I did not have a need to keep water in them all the time.

Don