Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Rookie Pond Building

Hey Folks, how is everyone doing?

Our place has a pond a that is dry majority of the time. Not because it doesn't hold water but because it leaks out through a creek that starts about 15 yards away from the dam. Does anyone have any advice on how to fix this? I have thought of using bentonite to help seal it but am not sure if this will work, or just be a waste of time.

Background: This pond has been around for about 40 years. My parents remember the pond being full all the time. They would swim and fish in it all the time. When i was younger there was water in the pond but it was never full it would occasionally go dry but most of the time had some water in it. Throughout the years, it has gotten drier and drier and now it hardly ever holds water. When it does it will just last a few weeks. The pond is in a rocky area of the place. But it has many creeks that flow into it and is at one of the lowest points on the place.

Any helpful feedback or information would be very appreciated.

I don't think anyone would suggest the bentonite. You are going to probably have to either pack pond with clay or install a liner. I am no expert, but this is a pretty common question for this forum.

I had the same exact issue I pumped my pond dry put 9000 lbs of bentonite in the bottom and took a tractor with a big rototiller and tilled it in the bottom and then hauled in clay and packed it on top of the bentonite about 1 foot thick so far everything is holding.

I'm another who has never had luck(or skill) with bentonite.

After 40 years check to see if any tree roots grew through the dam, or into the pond. They may be the cause of the leak. If there are any trees on the dam, I'd renovate the whole dam.

I'd feel better about an 18"-24" thick clay liner vs. bentonite.

Trees are everywhere (sad to say). The top of the dam has been cleared but not behind the dam. Along time ago, i believe a pond builder came out and said there was an underground creek. The water would seep down into it and then it would flow out underneath the dam. about 20 yards down from the dam, you can see the water come up and carry down the creek out of the property. The builder said he could dig it and fill in the creek (he said) but wanted a really high price, very expensive price even now days.

If that's the case, then it sounds like the dam doesn't have a core trench. I'd recommend saving your pennies and having the dam repaired with a core trench.

How big is the pond?

If not big, you could get two prices from a contractor. One to just re-do the core and another to just compact/plate the whole bottom with clay. Sounds like a bad core trench, but with the whole pond being rocky, it may be leaking somewhere else.

I know nothing about ponds, what is a core trench? The pond is about 40' X 60'. The pond doesn't leak anywhere else. 2 creeks empty water into it (when it rains) and it seems to just leak out underneath the dam into the exit creek. The location of the pond is in a low rocky area. Any clay/dirt will have to be hauled down slowly load by load (dunno if that information is useful or not).

Read Bob Lusk's book Perfect Pond Want one. And keep studying this site. It helps to subscribe to the Magazine.

Thought about lining it. That small it is reasonable to line the pond and be done with water leaking issues.. Good Luck!!

Usually a core trench is dug deep enough so it reaches impervious soil.

I have thought of a liner but there are many rocks and have a strong feeling it won't last long. As well as is not even around the pond and slopes alot. I don't think i could put down enough dirt to keep the liner from moving (due to the slope of the surrounding pond.) We have discussed digging out the bottom and then laying down clay/bentonite. The biggest limiting factor is cost. We have made it this far with a leaking pond and it is not necessary (but always nice to have). I would like to do this myself and only spend money on fuel and time (i can pass it off as a temporary hobby). As i gain more knowledge i think this problem is bigger than i can handle (i hope not). I wonder if it is better to dig a new pond in an area that isn't rocky. I just don't know what is below the ground. Eventually i will hit rock/limestone and might not be able to keep everything sealed.

It has rained recently and our pond is full (it looks wonderful). Unfortunately i know in a month or less it will be empty. After some pricing and calculating i think about $500 can buy enough bentonite to put on the bottom. Will this be enough and what are the odds this will work (get my $500 bucks out of it)? We have some heavy equipment but no back hoe machine to dig down deep to get way below the dam. We have trees all around the pond. I will slowly working on clearing some of them and getting them away from behind the dam. We cleared off the ones on top.

skid where in Texas are you?

If it works for you longer than 2 years I think you will set the new PB record.....

we are located west-southwest of Austin. Max of 2 years is not promising at all.

Ok skid....too far for the guys I know that could come take a look and offer advice. Since you are on a limited budget you don't want to throw away money on something that doesn't work out in the long run. If I were you I would ask around for a reccomended local pond builder or call someone like the link shown below. Try to get them to come out and take a look and offer advice and/or a remedy. At least that way you won't make a mistake of throwing money away going in the wrong soloution. Maybe tell them you are on a limited budget and to try and fit you in sometime over the next several months when they are already out in your area.

http://www.texaspondconstruction.com/MaintenanceRepair.html