Any ideas on what it might cost to build a 1/2 acre pond?. Some details. It is in a natural valley and actually there is a leaky ond there now (i've posted about in past). Pond is 1/8th acre but has always leaked, twp contractor built it real fast (even used some kind of tape to put overflow pipe together which of course fell apart)...anyways it is a real nice spot and i'm going to hire it done but was wondering ball park prices for that size. Dam may be usable. I think pond mainly leaks where contractor dug out big rocks and did not cover/pack with clay. Lots of clay at site too.
Tks for any thoughts.

$5-10K depending on the problems you encounter.

Not sure if this will help you but I'd been trying to come up with a price myself for the last year.From what I found there can be a wide range of pricing depending on your site and builder.
I'm hoping they are going to start my 1/2-3/4 acre pond this week.I've already spent about $1,600.00 on clearing my site with one company and then they started talking over $25,000.00 for the pond so I found a new company.I paid him $400.00 to come out and dig test holes and he wants another $15,000.00 to build the pond.
It looks like mine is going to cost me around $17,000.00 to build.I do think mine is on the high side do to my site.He has to clear more for the pond and has no room to work and will have to clear some for a staging area and there really isn't a good place to put the trees and brush he pushes over so he'll have to make a place fore that.He also has to strip off 2-2 1/2 feet of top soil to get to my clay.

Thanks for the numbers guys. I am hoping for the 5 to 10k range. I am hoping they just need to line the bottom with clay. The dam I think will work but they may want to dig through where the overflow pipe currently travels and redo just to be sure it doesn't leak there.
Got a reputable pond builder coming out soon for estimate so will know for sure and post the estimate back here.

Around where I'm at no one has an overflow pipe, only a spillway. And none around here has ever breached the dam causing failure. Even ponds up to 25 acres. They wanted $4K to put in a carbon steel s40 pipe in. 4 grand is a lot of $ . So far so good. Not sure how that would work in your neck of the woods

P.S. my 5 Ac cost me $ 30K to complete

I built a 1 ac pond a few years ago. I had a lot of timber to remove, and bad soil, with lots of rock. I went without a clay liner due to access for dump trucks hauling it in. I had good clay, but too much rock. I received some money from the sale of the timber, that helped offset the pond construction costs. I still paid closer to $20,000 to get it built.
I had the guy from the USDA (pond specialist) come out, and he gave me much free advice, and soil analysis. Even gave me odds on probability of success.
He advised on a overflow pipe, and two emergency spillways, on each end of the dam. They are just grassed in, and have never had water in them. I went with a larger pipe (12") than what was called for. The pipe has been able to handle all the overflow.
However,,, I only have 9 acres filling a one acre pond. In my part of Missouri they recommend having a minimum of 10 acres.
I have a small leak, due to the rock in the clay. I've been through two droughts since construction. I'm about 12" below full right now, but we haven't had a lot of rain in the last month. I'm happy as can be. It's full of fish, and is great for swimming. Still a work in progress, and I see future expenses. (Aeration) Hope this helps.
In the big scheme of things, it's totally worth it. That is if the coats are within reason. It's transformed our property from a deer camp, into a vacation spot.

lbm ,
In 2007 I had an excavator come out to see about getting rid of some standing water in a field. Next thing you know i'm building a pond. His cost was $5,200 . Didn't have to haul anything in or out.it ended up being .6 acres. Got real lucky with soil. Turned out awesome but not without some sleepless nights worrying if would hold. Sold that place in 2015 and have another pond now that was already here.Reward worth the risk to me.

0.5 Acres on a hillside, ~$9K.

Don't forget to build a dock and put that in your budget as well. You want that in before it fills if you can.

Around here, with only a few or no trees to clear away, and decent clay, around 6 to 6.5K

My 5 Ac cost 30K between two hills lots of trees to remove and nearly 500 foot of dam