Originally posted by Brettski:
Nutty,
The one thing I want to define further, tho, is your statement about a "natural wetland escape". It sounds as if you say that the area where a dam would be constructed is currently a wetland or marshy zone. If this is correct, does it actually hold water or are we talking minimal retention only when it rains...then it dissipates and runs off further downstream?
Well, yes and no, none of this is wetland. The "lowest" side is still 15' above the lowest part of my Y shaped "bowl". What I mean by a natural excape is there is a wetland on my neighbors property which is lower and directly inline then my lowest side, so I assume the water actually ends up piping down there.
My soils are about 15 to 20% clay, with a fair amount of sand, (combination soil) not the best for pond building but there is water everywhere too. The stuff will hold water if compacted well. But this area does NOT currently hold water. Also, there is a huge commercial sand pit about 1.5 miles away, and if I can get them to give me a fair price, plan on hauling in some good clay soil they have ran into in areas to process with my soils. (When I actually start digging I may have some of these areas as well, but don't plan on doing alot of digging, other then for fish structure reasons).
Right now my plan is to construct a dam on the lowest area so I can have a structured outlet, and raise the water level maybe 3 ft. But really wouldn't need to if I would just let the water eventually overflow this side. This assumes I can seal the sides and bottom of my bowl so it eventually holds water.
I am still working against nature, as my lowest part of the natural ground level of my bowl is about the top of the water level of lake my property borders about 400 to 600 ft away from where I would like to build this pond. This will create a couple hill building sites with water on both sides of the house. And several more with views of pond, lake, and two small pond/wetlands (that I may or maynot improve).
OH and thanks for the link. Very good read!