Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? New pond project gone bad. Need help!!

Just signed up but have been lurking for awhile. A big thanks to all who are willing to help out people like me. Here goes:

Fall of 2012 decided to use some funds given at a fundraiser for our special needs child to build a pond primarily for his enjoyment as we are unable to take him very far from home due to his medical conditions. I hired a local contractor who said he could build me a 2 acre pond for the funds I had. Fast forward to Fall 2013 and the pond has a bad leak on dam end (no core trench), has silted in some 10 feet on all sides (bad spring flooding here in central Illinois with no silt dam built), and the pond was only 6 feet deep when full this spring (was supposed to average 8). The contractor decided to use a 10 inch pipe as the overflow which dumps into a small ravine which in turn empties into a cistern type thing outletting to a 6 inch field tile. The ravine quickly silted in and all of the overflow now empties into my field. I do have some additional funds for this project, but I have to make sure that I do it right this time. I've learned a lot by reading topics on this site, but I'm in a bit over my head here. I am also very gunshy about hiring this done again without a ringing endorsement from some on this site. I'll add a few facts below that may be helpful.

I own a John Deere 455G front loader crawler
I also own a 4wd International 4366 Tractor
I am somewhat handy running large equipment
All of the dirt will remain on site (I have 4 acres to spread it out on)
The pond is fed primarily from about 25 acres of field runoff (see silting issue after heavy rains above)
I built a temporary retention dam along my field this spring to stop the silting. Damage was done before it was dry enough to do any good, but seems to work well.
We have very good clay here starting with brown at about 2 feet transitioning to blue at 4-6 feet.

I would be most grateful for any help on this project. A simple starting point would be great.

Not to overstate the obvious, but I have lost all faith in the original contractor to continue on with this project. His pond building expertise was quite overstated I have since learned.

Scroll thru the "User List" in the M's for a member named Mongo. He has 54 posts. He's in Brownstown, IL and is one that I'd trust to do it right. His e-mail addy is listed in his member profile.

Click here!

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showprofile&User=2223

Thanks for the quick response guys. I just PM'd him.

You might not get a response. Last time he was on here was October 2012. Better to e-mail him.

No luck getting a hold of Mongo. I have been able to do quite a bit of work myself on this project (going from 1.5 acres to 3 acres) but lack the equipment and skills to dig a proper core trench in the existing dam. I want to do this right but have found it very difficult to get someone who is available and takes this project as seriously as I do.
A couple questions:
Is there anyone in the Central Illinois area that is available and can dig a proper core trench? I have tried 4 different local contractors and everyone is on bigger projects this fall.

If not, then:

Is it possible to shave off the back 1/4 of the existing dam and core down from there, then extend the dam over the core? I could swing that with the equipment I have. The water level when full would still be below the core in this scenario. Thanks in advance guys; hoping to get this construction behind me and start stocking some Walleyes, Perch, and Smallies next year.

Have you tried giving the Herman Brothers a call and seeing who they'd recommend?

http://www.hbpondmanagement.com/

Sorry Mongo didn't work out.

Yeah, talked with Nate a while back this summer. For varying reasons, the 3 guys he suggested didn't work out. 1 never returned my calls, but the other 2 were busy on larger projects all fall. Lots of IDOT road work being done around these parts, and I think that's limiting my options. Thanks again. Hopefully I can find someone.

Just got a hold of Bluniers and have them penciled in for the end of the month!!