https://youtu.be/ACSwcEgPFoM

Above is my problem.

My question is how would you go about the process of repairing now that I have a deep cut in the dam?

I cut the pond dam to repair a leak under the core. I have cut down pretty far so it will not continue to fill. The pond is about 1-2ft deep now. I don't believe I have gone below the bowl yet in spots. Maybe at the very back in the valley, but not where the dam is going/has been.

Do I?

A) Scrape with high lift cross wise across the cut and recreate the core 3 ft lower than bowl? Possibly leave the ditch leading to the new core and back fill in lifts of 6 inches? Possibly build in front of it quite a bit???

B) Scrape length wise into the trench and back fill creating a deep solid pack since the trench is about 10ft deep, water wouldn't seep that far to leak under again. (dreaming)The trench is narrow and deep dug with a extenda hoe.

I would appreciate your take and any other suggestions as I will get this going this summer but once again.

God has blessed us with this day, what we do with it is up to us.