My pond is only 60'x40' and about 11' at the deepest. We have major silt build up on the bottom and I am wondering how to go about cleaning it? The sides are too steep to get machinary in. There are no fish in it now, but would like to put some in this spring/summer.
I have lots of suspended particles and have had no luck using Ag Gypsum in the past.
This pond is stream fed by runoff most of the year and topped of with well water during the rare very hot dry month. There are lots of plants growing in the shallows but nothing down deep.
Will adding air to the bottom help?
I do have a small (8') decorative windmill and would like to know if there is any way to retrofit it for pumping air?
Any advise or suggestions are deeply appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Chris

I figured out that I can not retro-fit my windmill for air, but does anyone know what to use to clean up this small pond? Please!!!

Chris,
after looking at your pictures, I would pump it out it would take a day with the proper pump. And then hire a track-hoe to clean it up spread the dirt on the down side seed and straw.I would put in two silt traps at inflow ,judging by the shape of it. There is a difference between silt and biomass which do you have. Aeration will not reduce yiur silt load but work on Biomass.Your banks might be to steep for equipment ,but it was built with a machine.Also the spillway or overflow is in the wrong spot,while the Hoe is in there he can ease the inboard banks.You might want to put a 10" culvert pipe where the chair is ,instead of water erroding steep bank.

Good Luck
Scott

Scott,
Thank you for your suggestions.
There is a ditch cut in beyond the overflow that runs to a slough at the bottom of the property so moving it would be quite a chore and there is no erosion occuring back there.
I do have a 3' deep settling area cut into the inflow right before the small waterfall which is under the bridge and the water is good and clear before it gets to the pond.
I will talk with a few operators I know and check into the digging. Will I have to reline with Sodium Bentonite after that?

Bentonite will only be needed if you have poor soil and no clay content. A good grain man/operator will no how much to remove and re pack sides . Remember do not treat it like a swimming pool leave some of the silt behind to line bottom. If you get strong inflow this is what stirs up silt,put some large stones at entry point to diffuse and break up flow.
The inflow slashway into pond should be lined with rock up the sides and bottom this will help aerate water coming in.

Good Luck Scott

What does a "silt trap" consist of? I have a silt run-off issue that I too would like to address.

Scott,
Also, this pond was neglected for many years and I have a thick layer of mulm along with the silt. It is surrounded by Cedars, Maples and Alders so I get lots of branches, leaves, etc. dropping in. I have been netting the new stuff that falls but there is years worth of DOC's in there. That is why I was thinking that aerating would be good for it.

Dudley,
If a silt trap is what I have, I call it a settling chamber. Pretty much it is a deep area dug into the stream where heavy stuff settles before it gets to the pond. I use a shop vac to clean mine out every now and then. If your run off is coming in from the perimeter of the pond, you can build a berm around it.

Chris:

Follow Scott Trava's advice. Judging from the photos, this is a one-day job for a backhoe and an operator of middling skill. Hereabouts, that job would cost $500-$600, perhaps a touch more.

Then you have an issue: What to do with the spoil?

Spread it around the grounds. It might stink temporarily, owing to the nutrients, but it's fertile stuff, capable of growing just about anything.

Mark McDonald
founding editor

Thank you both Scott and Mark,
I have a friend who owns/runs and excavating company, has his own equipment and has offered to do the job for $100.00, dinner and beers to get him through the project. Only problem is that he is pretty busy for the next few months so I gotta wait. As for the stuff he pulls out of there, it all goes into my rose and veggie gardens.
Thanks again!
Chris