Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction New Pond

Hi everyone!

I just joined the forum and would like to introduce myself and my new pond. I am in the final stages of building a new house with an accompanying pond. It was one of our dreams to have a pond on the property and are thrilled to have it but now the work starts. The pond was dug last week and is roughly 1/4 acre and ten feet or so deep. Since it was dug we have had no rain and it has about 18" of water in it.

My first concern is getting this thing filled. Will it just fill up with rain and hold water? The water table in the general area is high and most properties on our road have ponds. The guy we had dig it seemed great and has experience digging ponds but is not solely a pond expert. It was a win win because we needed a lot ot fill for around the house. The soil seems to be sandy and the steep banks not very compacted so I am already worried about it filling and holding water any thoughts appreciated.

Tyler[img]https://imgur.com/a/NEpXXbQ[/img]

[img]https://imgur.com/a/NEpXXbQ[/img]

Welcome to Pond Boss!!

That does look like some sandy soil from the one picture.

If you've had no rain, where did that water come from? It may indicate the level of the water table.

Yes, I believe it is the water table. At this point I am exploring how it will fill and stay full. Liner, bentonite, etc.

Did the bottom of your hole start filling with water while you were excavating the pond? If so, then you probably have a "groundwater" pond. We have several members that manage nice groundwater ponds.

However, you are completely at the mercy of the groundwater level! No manner of liner, bentonite, etc. is capable of changing the water level in a groundwater pond.

Alternatively, most people have ponds that fill with surface "run-off" water. The watershed (the area of topography that drains into the pond) determines how much water from rain events is available to fill your pond. Do you have a lot of land that slopes towards the pond?

You should be able to determine which type of pond you have, just by observing its conditions over the next 8 weeks.

If you do have a groundwater pond, there is a chance that the low water level shown in your picture is the best you are going to get for most of the year. In that case, you may need to build a "supply" pond or supply well. If you do have a good groundwater aquifer, you could seal your existing pond and then excavate another small pond in an area where you have electricity available. You could pump water over and raise the water level to full pool in your good pond. If you did achieve a good seal, then you would only need to pump water to offset your evaporative losses.

Good luck on your pond and house project. It looks like you will have a happy "crew" on location when all of that is completed!

Yes, water was filling the hole while digging so probably a groundwater pond. There might be some slope towards the pond but it is slight, mostly a flat area. The house is very close to the pond and we had to build up to avoid the water table so there is some grade from that down to the pond.

Here are photos of the pond in relation to house as well as house foundation this November.


[img]https://photobucket.com/u/goralskit...f/p/b3680d51-aacd-42fa-8a05-9a47336a9aa0[/img]

[img]https://photobucket.com/u/goralskit...f/p/2bbab6cd-6c52-4f78-94d3-f83a8dc30812[/img]

[img]https://imgur.com/a/uhP8l3F[/img]

[img]https://imgur.com/a/uhP8l3F[/img]

Are you in Waukesha County?

It does look like a groundwater incursion in your pictures, but things like that are difficult to judge on the internet!

Was it mostly unconsolidated sand when the pond and house were being excavated? Did you ever get down to any solid bedrock?

There are multiple good groundwater sources for you in that area. Many areas in the county can get a decent well (15 gpm?) out of the shallow unconsolidated sediments. You are likely to get a much bigger well out of the Niagara dolomite, which may be your first bedrock. Finally, there is an even deeper sandstone aquifer that typically yields even more water.

Did you drill a water well for the house? Do you want one? (It is a good backup to have.)

One option would be to put a liner in the pond to get a perfect seal. You then might be able to drill (or even drive pipe) for a very shallow water well in your unconsolidated sediments. That type of well might be slow to fill the pond, but should be good enough to easily keep the pond topped off after it is filled.

It is much easier to do a good "family" pond with beautiful features and landscaping when you can keep the water level at exactly your preferred height.

If you are contemplating a well, ask your neighbors about their wells. If you don't know any neighbors yet, then check the state records for water wells. They are usually public records.

Thank you for the awesome reply. I am in far west Jefferson co. right on the Waukesha co border. I think mostly consolidated sand, if I remember bedrock limestone was deep. I do have a well for the house they said it would produce 28 gpm, the pond is close enough to the house that a could run a hose. All the neighbors and the gentlemen I bought the land from have ponds so I do intend to talk to them about theirs. I would like to be able tonavoid a liner if possible but will do what it takes.