Hello all. Great site here! My family has a farm in Jarrell, TX (about an hour north of Austin) and we are considering building a 3-4 acre tank for recreational/fishing purposes. Can anyone recommend a good contractor that does work in that area?

Thanks.
Dave

The site is centered on a draw that runs through the center of our property. It only has about 5 ft of elevation difference over the area that I'm planning to build the tank, so I'll have to do a fair amount of excavation to get a 10-12 ft depth. I believe the soil (mostly black dirt) has an adequate amount of clay (this particular area stays very wet for weeks after a rain), but I am a little concerned about finding rock underneath. This draw eventually empties into a creek on our property, and that area full of shale. There is another tank on an adjacent property on the same draw (above mine) and it seems to hold water very well. Wish you were closer...

I'd call the NRCS and ask for a list of local dozer operators. From that list, I would ask for references. I would contact the references and ask if I could come and look at their work. There is a lot of difference between digging a hole for fish to live in and grubbing mesquites, working on housing sites, etc. I would ask about rate per hour for dozers, sheepsfoot rollers, and possibly trackhoes. I would also check with the NRCS to see if they would lay out the site for you.

Good pond builders can be hard to come by around here. I don't know anyone in your area. That's not to say there aren't any. If you are in the blackland prairie soil, the abilities of your pond builder are less important. If your soil is rocky or sandy, you need them to really look it over. Make sure you feel comfortable with your choice.

I've seen a lot of dry holes here in Central Texas. Without exception, they all cost a lot of money. One bill ran $40k and it's dry. Of course, the contractor was remorseful, but what could he do? :rolleyes:

I'll check around and see if I can find out anything specific. I don't have any clients in the town of Jarrel. Are you east or west of I35?

Thanks for the suggestions. Our farm is about 2 miles east of I-35. I talked to a dozer operator a little while ago who had built a few tanks in the area, but I didn't get the feeling that he was very knowledgeable about different construction techniques or soil types. I think the extent of his tank design was to do what he did on the last one...

I would appreciate you checking around. Per Bob Lusk's suggestion, I also contacted Johnson Lake Management in San Marcos, so they might be able to help me with some design work and soil analysis.