Hey I am new to the pond stuff. I just brought 10 acres with about a 2 acre pond. The land has been left along for about 15 years. Right now i am trying to clear a lot of the under growth and all of the tree sappling. The pond is about 8 feet deep at the lowest point, there is some fish and local wildlife that vist it. The question where do I start? I know later in a few years i want to make it deeper. I was told that it is feed by a under ground spring and that in the hottest months of TX ii has never run dry. It will shrink down to less to a half acre. I brought it Oct and the pond was about half acre, now with all the rain we had this year it so full that it about 2 1/2. So where do I start?

Andre:

Observe, measure, and record.

What kind of fish does the pond have now? Sample by angling, trapping, netting, and/or observation. What types and sizes of fish are there?

What happens to the temperature and depth of the pond over the course of a year?

Do you KNOW that 8 foot is the max depth, or were you TOLD that? If the latter, that could be old info. Consider confirming by depth sounding.

Consider what kind of pond/fishery you want to have.

Check out the local area to find good pond excavators. Check their results, bona fides, and (dis)satisfied customers.

Buy Lusk's 3 pond books and read them and PB Mag. The more you learn before you renovate, the more successful and economically it can be done.

Wise words and well said, Theo.

If you are trying to figure out where to go, first figure out where you are. Then define your goals.