We have a pond that is about 3 acres of surface area. We have a few trees around it. The pond was built in the mid-1950's.

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r624/Todd_Buckley/20150328_193255_zpsuw2x8gm4.jpg

The pond has a 24" concrete round drain basin on one corner of the dam. A 12" corrugated pipe drains into a creek behind the dam - about 60-70' from the drain. That old pipe has been decaying for a while now, and has undercut the hill some. Not scary undercut, but it is there.

I ordered a 24" Bar guard from Agri Drain 4 years ago, and pounded it into that hole, in hope that it would stop the leaves from plugging the drain.

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r624/Todd_Buckley/20150313_183454_zpsvsczfe90.jpg


I ended up with this:

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r624/Todd_Buckley/20150424_182200_zps0rsfjnwm.jpg

The 50-some year old galvanized it slowly fading. I had a dirt guy out last week to look at some other work.....He digs ponds on the side. He's suggesting installing an overflow pipe of a 20' section of plastic smooth wall corrugated at the same level as my drain, and cutting it through the dam, putting some rip rap under the discharge, foregoing any anti-seep protection, and pouring some concrete around it about 1/2 way up of the pipe to keep it from slipping.

I don't have an open wallet. We keep two small homes, and this is one of them. I'd like to do what's right within my parameters and abilities.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions. I ain't rushing into anything.......It's worked this way for a while, now. Those leaves, and an old galvanized pipe, are bugging me, though. I hate to watch the effort my wife puts into cleaning those leaves away every year.....

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r624/Todd_Buckley/20141206_101446_zpszxjbiahv.jpg

Would a horizontal overflow pipe be a bad idea?

A horizontal pipe should work, but I am not sure about the concrete. It must be installed well though. In my opinion, your trash guard has the bars installed too close together to avoid clogging. At a minimum, I would remove every other bar, maybe even 2 out of every 3 bars, so small debris that will not likely clog the pipe can pass through. Even if you install a horizontal pipe, the old drain will need to be sealed off somehow. You could consider a siphon drain system, but others will need to chime in on that. This might be safer to install if you have enough drop available.

Can't give any advice but happy ta welcome another Hoosier to the forum. Nice lookin pond.

Another Hoosier?!

Pretty soon we'll out number the Texans!

Never gonna happen Cecil.... Lol

Buck, your trash guard is doing what it is intended for. Those sticks could easily get lodged in your thru pipe and then plug, letting your dam get topped and possibly breeching it.

Being in the woods like your pond is will always be a problem for limbs and leaves. What diameter pipe is your drain? I always prefer installing a siphon system which pulls the nastiest water off the pond's bottom first.

I'd be concerned if the dirt mover suggests foregoing anti-seep collars, ESPECIALLY when he is suggesting installing it in your dam. A slight leak could become a catastrophic failure fast if the drain is not installed/compacted very well.

I agree with Rex. I would look into a siphon drain. It pulls from the bottom of the pond, and while it will suck leaves out, there won't be any floating sticks getting caught in it.

Rex, the pipe is 12" dia.

RAH, the bars look close together in that picture because they are, but once they get to the main diameter of the grate they are much further apart.

I have a 12" horizontal drain and use pig-wire panels as a trash guard - see pic in jetty thread. I think a 4"x6" spacing on a 12" drain should stop clogs, but we shall see. My next pond will be in the woods (as soon as I can find a contractor that gives me confidence in their dam building skills).

Lots of ponds in Indiana that don't go dry.