Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam Pond growth pictorial scrapbook

Rocky'T...you're creativity is going to hasten my trip to the poor farm.

That's what friends are for.

The deed is done....And so it shall be.
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The pond is full.
It took 19 months, but 13 - 14 million guesstimated gallons (and then some) are present and accounted for. This last midwestern blast of precipitation and wild weather temps has taken us over the top (figuratively).
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D-ski and I were scheduled to be in Florida this week, but the same lousy weather that completely cancelled all the possible flights outta Chicago was the same system that took us to the spillway. Ironic, eh? So, instead of hangin' around at Universal Studios in Orlando, we spent our Saturday at the pond delivery room. It's a bouncing, baby 5-ac'er.
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The complete story and a whole buncha other pics are on a new page on our Liberty Nature Preserve website.
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Again...and again...
Thanks to the entire forum and those key players that encouraged me to push the envelope, then pulled me back from the ledge just before I fell off. I think it all turned out pretty dang good.

Congratulations, Dad. We're still at 8 cm dilated and holding here.

A beautiful thing is born.

What a gestation period !

How are the fish doing . In a couple mths you can watch them spawn - a second birth all in one winter/spring

A brand new bouncing baby 13 gallon, 3 pint beauty. Oh, wait. That's million gallons isn't it?

It's beautiful.

Wonderful! Can't wait to see some fish pictures this spring!

Get the fish food ready; you'll love it.

You are going to spend hours at that dock just watching smallies and other fish. Get a good pair of polarized sun glasses.

I went to the website and read the entire narrative. I could almost feel your triumph. You've created something marvelous. I'm glad you've been allowing all of us to witness it.

I'm thru drueling now, It's a master piece.

FANTASTIC job, B'ski!!

I hope to have a setup like yours someday.

dittos to all the above comments......glad to have been able to experience it w/ you (here anyways)...


p.s. looks like you still have a crib out of water?

Nah...I think you're lookin' at the hooded trash-guard I have installed over the spillway pipe inlet. Go to the new website page I created this morning (and linked in my last post) for a better explanation of the entire encounter.
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I bow to my Pond-Zen masters and teachers...thank you.

Wow!!!

Started reading this thread this morning and had to put it on hold (domestic duties called). I stopped right at the post where the water level had dropped.



Spent the rest of the day running around town with the family concerned... Did Brettski's pond fill? Is the watershed sufficient? Is Porturalia really a country the PB guys didn't make up?

Well, you can imagine my excitement to return to the thread tonight and find that just a few hours ago it was reported at full pool.

What a pond! What a place!


Some people idolize rock stars and fall all over themselves to get something signed.

Other people wear Eli Manning jerseys.

BUT... my heroes are guys that build their own ponds!

Nicely done, Brettski! Can I get your autograph?

Brettski - Went through your entire site. Read every word. What a great story! You've created a masterpiece.

Outstanding! Really, really nice. Congratulations.

...this guy's gonna fit right in
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Weissguy...thanks for coming to cyber-visit us. You're always welcome. Your support means alot.
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D. Helms...I am honored to be recognized on only your 13th post. Join us more often, would ya?

Just skipped through the whole thread. very interesting. Lot's of hard work paid off, pond looks great!

Brettski,

Congratulations!!! Now the really fun stuff starts to happen. Your pond becomes alive and things start to happen on their own. Wildlife shows up and makes it their home. Plants do the same thing. Every time we walk around ours, we're amazed to see the little changes that happen to it and discover new creatures.

You did a first class job of turning a dream into reality. Your research has benifited all of us, but maybe me more then most. Thank you, I've realy appreciated it and look forward to your continued updates and success.

Eddie

I just saw this Brettski, it's finally full! What an accomplishment. It's fantastic, a dream come true. You will have many many enjoyable hours at this place. I guess you've figured that out already. When do you start the house? The journey will continue.

Congratulations, Ski.

Beautiful! Victoria and I were just talking about your project this weekend and I wondered how close you were with the recent weather. I am so glad a took a couple of minutes to check. Congratulations! What an inspiration. Thank you.

...a bit of postscript stuff
Since GW trained me in the fine art of posting video stuff from my photobucket acct, I will (shamelessly) post a summer vid clip of the finished and full product (I have this same vid on our website, but this PhB vid clip is better quality...maybe I should have GeeDub tune up our website, too)
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...complete with neighborhood background sound

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There have been a number of posts and threads related to new ponds that experience considerable water loss as they fill. We went through the same scare. The common response from the experienced pondmeisters is a warning to chill as the surrounding soils become saturated.
Our first full summer saw a drop of about 16". Yep, I was spooked. Then, the following winter (this past winter), the heavy precip brought it up to full pool. We also had a wet spring and early summer. Since that time, tho, the balance of the summer has yielded average rainfall. In fact, nothing of significance for about a month. I just measured the water level. It's the middle of August and we are 4-1/2" shy of full pool. She's holding like a bathtub....a far cry from last summer's scare. I have to believe that we are proof that the soils gotta suck up and saturate with a new pond.

I have two comments.

First, I'd like to say that I now have an image in my mind of the pond to go with all of the bits of information you've given us. This literally brings the pond to life for me. Thanks. That was gorgeous.

Second, It's obvious that you need to embark on a prolonged and expensive cardinal eradication project.

But where was the road noise? I hear it at least 364 1/2 days a year here (occasionally on New Year's Day, if you get up early enough, and there's enough snow, there are no man-made noises).

Appreciate that commute to the pond a little more, Bski.