So I decided to post under creating habitat. Not sure how many were following my pond build and I only posted Day 1. Was not seeing many views so I am jumping ahead to adding Structure/Habitat. The pond is now completed. I had some ridges cut in. Some humps and bumps added and some stumps put back in on a couple of deep spots where ridges were cut in. Also I added several pipes cover with concrete we dug up from an old house foundation on another part of the property. Also added a couple of stacks of cinder blocks in different areas. Now I need to start adding some other things. Would you go with something like Honey Hole products or something similar or more natural cover. I have tons of cedar trees on the property big and small. I know you should only create about 20 to 30 percent so I don't want to overkill. Any ideas? Here is a short video of basically what I have done so far, however I have several coves that have nothing currently as you will see, and a few with just some small concrete or cinder blocks. Let me know what you think before it starts taking on water. Easier now than later.

https://youtu.be/mDC3sPSqTyQ

Getting to a true 20% is proving to be a challenge. My pond was full soon after I moved nearby before adding most of the cover. If I were you I'd shoot for 40% since the small cedar twigs and such will break down quickly.
If you still have good logs, take a look at fish cribs. There's at least one scuba video. Mine is possibly the only mesquite log crib. Packed with cedar and only 5-6ft high. The fish love it. Lots of activity above it in the evenings. Great project if you're up for it!

Don't forget that pond weeds are structure, too. My BOW suffered the first couple of years, despite submerged logs, because the YOY fish had almost nowhere to hide. No pond plants. Only with the growth of pond grass and American Pondweed the last two years has the situation improved. Small fish desperately need cover they can use to escape the big guys!

I just spent 15 minutes writing up what I thought was a good explanation of what I would do if it were mine and it logged me out.
Not the first time this has happened-very frustrating.
What anthropic says above REALLY tied in to what I had typed.

I just started another and it did the same thing-I'm done.

Nice looking place. Question: How did you hold that camera so dang steady?

Fantastic looking build...I love it!

I have found that adding rock along the banks to be very good for my pond. If you can source creek rock (or whatever) with a good mix of gravel size up to basket ball size you will have added great habitat for crawdads, minnows, pond bugs, and such along with some erosion and vegetation control. I would have added it to the entire shoreline if I could have, but my efforts only amounted to about 20%. My rock starts about 1 foot above full pool and extends down the slope about 2 to 3 feet into the water. I would scatter a few "rock beaches" in around your pond, but don't do it where you might be launching boats. I also put old carpet pieces down first before adding the rock along the shore with the idea of it reducing the sinking affect of the rock into the mud and as a cheap weed barrier.

I would also add some pallet structures for seeding the FHM's and maybe some gravel beaches for spawning beds.





I can tell you that 1 cinder block was not enough to keep my pallet stacks down AND it's a real pain to put them back in place after the pond filled up...At least 1 cinder block per pallet in the stack and throw an extra one on for good measure.

Based on your wants/needs/priorities...

Rip-rap the dam 2' above to 4' below full pool waterline.
Three, maybe four big cedar tree piles from deep to shallow perpendicular to shore.
Lots of surface gravel spread out 4"-6" thick over some of the shallow areas.
Anchored pallet stacks for FHM spawning sites.
Lots more big piles of big rock/busted concrete etc. strategically placed deep to shallow.
Boat ramp - gravel or concrete either one works.
Diffusers and air lines for aeration system placed.
Probably some other stuff I can't think of right now.

Little boat ramp story...

Several people told me I was nuts for spending money on crushed rock to make a boat ramp for my little puddle. I might be nuts, but I wasn't nuts for doing that.

I took the wife boat riding on the Gasconade River on Saturday. When we got home I noticed a really nasty looking neon green algae bloom starting in my pond. The water has been very clear - 5'-6' visibility, weather has been hot and dry for awhile, and I haven't installed aeration system yet.

So... I kept the boat tied down the to trailer and backed it in far enough to submerge the jet pump and fired it up. Ran it at 2000rpm for about 15 minutes. Algae bloom kaput! Sediment stirred and visibility decreased to 2' or so. Potential big problem avoided!

QA, is that an 8N?

It's a 1949 Ford 8n...a real work horse! The engine was rebuilt about 15 years ago and the ignition system was recently restored...runs like new. It's latest jobs are putting the boat in the pond when needed and taking my granddaughter for wagon rides.

I learned to drive rock picking on a 1949 Ford 8N. My folks owned a small dairy farm and a Ford 8N and almost a dozen kids was all they needed to run a 120acre, 40 head dairy farm. Awesome tractor!

I have one but haven’t started it for 7 or 8 years. Need my butt kicked for that. If or when I get the time and inclination I gotta do a lot of work for ignoring it.

For every 10 hours of using those old tractors, you will need to work on it for 1 hour...Dave, you may be ahead of the game by letting it sit for that long!

The fuel pump on my "young" 30-year old tractor just went on the fritz. They don't make them like they used to:)

Sorry to continue the hijack MWB, I can't help myself!

Heck, my tractor does not even have a fuel pump on it. It runs magically without one and, just a few years early, they didn't have electric starters...they just had an arm breaker crank. I'm pretty sure the crank was still an option on my '49.

MWB see the structure archive for ideas.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92463#Post92463

Quarter Acre I like the structure you used. Do think about at least 1 or 2 vertical structures if not there.

Cranking can be dangerous. About 30+ years ago I was trying to start an old D6 Dozer. It backfired and busted my wrist.

Fuel pump is on a diesel. Dad would never let us kids crank start the tractors due to the danger.

Right way and wrong way to crank a tractor. My head was up my butt when I got my wrist busted.