I'm about to invest in a few head of cattle (8) and so I've been debating on the best way to keep them watered. One option is an elaborate pump system ran out to the pasture, or the other option is to simply dig a small stock tank. (According to FarmLogs it would be 1/8 acre or less in size.)

The area highlighted in yellow in the picture below is a depressed section of my pasture (about 3' lower than the rest) which already collects water about a foot deep when it rains heavily or the creek (in blue) overflows.

My initial questions are:
1. Would this be a good place to dig since water already collects there? (It's solid clay.)
2. Are there any concerns with the creek being that close? (About 40 feet away)
3. If any of you own cattle, would that size tank suffice for 8 head?

While solid clay isn't the best thing to use, it ought to work in your area. Solid clay cracks when it dries.

Does the creek flood into the area?

That ought to be OK for watering cattle. I have one that size and, at one time, that was my only water hole. Of course, no matter what, you have to hope/depend on rain.

BTW, can you pump from the creek if you have a water problem like a drought?

Dave, yes in extreme rain situations (like we had last month) the creek will overflow in that area.

I assume having the dam on the backside of the tank would prevent that. (That's where it would need to be anyway since the land slopes towards the creek, hence the runoff that pools in that area.)

I could pump from the creek on occasion if necessary, but it is the first thing to dry up as we get into the summer months.

A windmill pumping water into a round galvanized tank would also work.

If/when the creek floods, fish management goes out the window.

Where are you in North Central Texas?

Dave, I wouldn't be stocking any fish in that tank. It would simply serve as water for the cows. I have a larger pond for fishing.

I'm about 20 minutes east of Paris.

Just to make sure, could you make it a little larger? Paris GENERALLY gets good rains, but...

Yeah, we get a decent amount of rain.

I put another pic below according to Google Maps key that would be 100' x 60' or 1/8 acre.

I'd need to allow enough room for the dam (in orange) and I'd be concerned about getting it back too much closer to the creek. I can just see the creek washing out the dam...

I have a seasonal creek about 50 yards from the dam on my forage pond. Only once in 30 years has it actually overflowed into the pond. And, it didn't hurt the dam.

Our pond is about 40 feet from a creek and no problems of leaking into the creek nor over flow. We have a 4" drain tile that sets our full pool and drains back to the creek. We fill our pond from the creek too with two pumps.

Red line going to red circle is the water in from the creek that then flows over a waterfall into the pond. Red line by its self is the over flow drain to the creek.

Cheers Don.

Thanks for the feedback. That eliminates that concern.