Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction Great site, new member with sand question

Hello from Indiana. I searched and read for the last few days, but gonna ask anyway.

Wife finally said OK to the new pond idea. We are in central Indiana all farm ground and flat. Looking to dig a 1.5 acre at 10' deep fishing swimming pond in lowest point of existing crop land. Area has about 60 acres of field and I am taking one small corner.

Got the backhoe out and dug a test hole approximately 12'x8' and 8' deep. Had soils down about 5' then sand as deep as the hoe could dig (8') with water table at about 6-1/2'. We are in a drought and have no measurable precipitation for a month + so I know the water table is low.

So with this discovery I am looking at a water table lake with deep slopped banks?

I had an excavator come out and look and he really discouraged me from going on. He felt it would be a job to dig with the sand and with the slopped banks it would never look right and have lots of material to dispose of.

I know he is right but looking for some ideas!!!

Thank you for reading and have a great 4th of July!

Dry in Indy

Explore some other area on the property with clay substrata. Sand depth layers may vary in your area. Check with local Soil and Water Conservation Service about soil maps for your area. Try to find some clay in the subsoils for building and lining a pond. A leaky pond is a big constant problem. Reconsider building a pond if you cannot find good soils. A swimming pool may be a good alternative.

I've got a pond in sandy soil. The excavator is right, you will constantly be fighting the water table and varying pond level. It'll be full in the Spring, and by mid summer the banks will be exposed and the pond will be 6'+ lower. If you are determined to go ahead, plan for the pond to be 10' deep at the lowest possible water level. That will mean digging a pond that is 16'- 18' deep from current ground level.

If you can find good clay like Bill suggested, dig enough to line the whole pond with at least 18" thick clay liner, and compact it with a sheepsfoot roller or multi tired roller.

Thank you for the information. When the corn is out I will dig around the property and see what we can find.



Already have the in-ground pool but she wont let me stock it with fish, its just not the same.

Again thank you for responding.