Hello,

I am very early in my pond planning process and have a question. Pond site back ground--Pacific Northwest, TONS Alder on my place, and from the few times I have got the tractor stuck...clay seems abundant.

First, I have done a very simple soil test by placing soil and water in a mason jar, shaking like a madman, then let it settle out. I did not dig a hole for the soil, but instead used soil from the top of a gofpher hole mound.

Results- After two weeks, the water still has a fair amount of suspended particles. The soil has stratified out to some degree, but there doesn't seem to be a much difference other than the particle size of the settiment. I can turn the jar upside down and the soil stays put if that means anything.

Does this test give me any useful info, since the soil was not from a test pit?

Joe

hey joe, congratulations on yer endeavor, and yer very wise to consult the vast resources here as you start yer journey.

sounds indeed like yer upper horizon soils are clay rich (perhaps clay loams or clay with silt/ silty clay loams which are great pond soils). silt soils will settle very fast in the mason jar test.

useful info is that depending on size of area and thickness of clay soil horizon, you may have a great on-site source for clay soils if'n when you dig yer pond and find coarser soils below, you can "borrow" to pack areas of pond bottom.

IMO, you still need to dig some test pits though and find out what is present at the depth you want yer pond to be.

Dave,

Thanks for your response. I agree, the first money spent will be on a few test pits. I have a soil profile from when they dug my well, and it's very promising for clay, clay, and then more clay.

Right now I am still having problems with siting. The only place it can really go, gets crowded into a corner due to a septic mound easment of 100'. The easement seems a little crazy due to the fact the pond would be uphill from the septic mound. I would also install a curtain drain, but no go. The health dept. said they could issue me a wavier if the pond was already in, but not the other way around. Govt. in action. Maybe I will post in the siting section and see what kind of ideas comes up.

Joe