Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Another hole in the ground

Well it has taken a little while but I have a few pics to share with those who care. I enjoy reading, learning and looking at the work of others so I guess it is my time to share.

Background info. Pond started out at 2 1/2 to 3 acres but majority only 1 1/2 to 2 feet deep. As drought hit over the summer lost over 80% of surface. Time to make lemonade. Population prior to renovation stunted bass/decent bass, minimal bluegill, unknown minnows. While draining discovered a multitude of crawdad and one bowfin(disappeared into mud). Called in help and let the diesel burn. Here are some pics of work being done and job completed. Will Keep updated as it fills.

Trying to post pics!! Go grab a DMD
First look-pond deceptively nice and full


Same time Different angle


Old dock with dam in backgroung


Drying up during drought looking to dam


Drying up looking to shallow end


From top of dam


With the drought on the decision is made to renovate. Help is on the way and before they show we get rain and---


Although it looks good it still needs to be fixed. So---(the trench is made)

I guess we will continue in groups of 8.

Notice anything funny in middle of dam(Yep it leaks)


Thar she flows


Water cometh and water goeth


Pond draining


Pond drained


No H2o looking to shallow end


Drained looking from top of dam(remaining water will be pumped out with trash pump)


Work begins--looking to deep end/dam with bottom scaping

Next group:

Looking to shallow end


Jeep in the bottomscaping(looking from top of dam)


Depth of trench


Middle of pond keeping dead trees


Shallow end beginning


Shallow end complete

Completed Pics: Pond with first few inches of water--

Shallow end


Midway


Middle of pond


Deep end


Far side of deep end


Good timing and proof of rain in Texas

That Jeep looks like it will make good structure.

Nice pics of the renovation.

Great! looking pond and location send pic's when she feels again.

WOW!!!

Thanks for all the great pics and comentary. I realy enjoyed it.

Did you make it any larger? Why was the dam leaking? Was it cored? Did you core the new dam? Where'd all the dirt go?

Thanks,
Eddie

Great job Q !! How much water did the rain put in the pond? Time to start planning for fish.

Thanks for the comments.

Eddie -the pond stayed at 3 acres, but now a much deeper 3 acres(6' to 8' in shallows 10'+ in deep end with trenches)and cleaner around edges.

-the dam was leaking due to what appeared to be poor soil. Also there were trees on back side of dam so possible roots. During renovation the dam was taken down and built back with good soil(clay) and made very wide and topped with topsoil.
All the dirt was used to "landscape" around the pond. Before renovation very flat and wooded around edges. After renovation have hills and berms, allot of "character" added to place. Starting to grow grass on these berms and can really tell where edges of pond will be. It looks great and did not have to truck dirt away$$$.

Ewest - in the rains so far the trenches are filled and shallow end has water in bottom. Hopefully by next rain will completely cover bottom

Some more pics of pond filling and grass starting.
Shallow end
Middle of pond
Middle with bridge going in just to the left.
deep end.
far side of deep end

Nice job! You may get it filled this weekend. That would be a special gift.
Merry Christmas and God bless all.
al

Al, I believe all of the rain will be coming your way.

Merry Xmas.

Quigibo,

Great series of pictures. I really enjoyed going through them. Projects like that are really interesting. You did a great job!...and now looks like you will be rewarded with plenty of rain!

AWESOME, Go Tarrant County folks!!!

Wow...some kinda job Quigbo! V nice, m'man.
A true classic. Love the creative use of the spoil to create the whoops and dips. What was the timeline to do all this work? You may have filled us in on your spillway engineering, but I forget...tell us more on it's size and design. What size drainage is feeding the project? Is an emergency spillway installed?
Jeepers (oops)...really man, you need a 3 acre red ribbon and bow. Merry Christmas, Quigbo...Santa's gonna have no problem spottin' this one for a landing.

Thanks for all the comments. The rains over Christmas were good to the pond.

Bski- timeline: broke dam May 1, started dig around August 1 and ended dig around Aug 16. There is an emergency spillway, it is to the left of the dam, it was the original ponds spillway location. Not sure on measurements for dam but will get on next trip.

New pics
Bridge built before rains Pics from after Christmas rains Bridge built just in time

Can't wait to see what the multi-inch rains we recieved there last week have done. Will show new pics when I get them. I guess it is time to start the food chain.

I was really admireing your dock as I scrolled through your pictures, when you suprised me. It's a BRIDGE!!! The only thing I like better than a dock is a bridge!!!

Very nice. Thanks for the updates.

Eddie

Yup, ditto Eddie on the bridge! V nice job. Tell us the inspiration for the design and it's many intended uses. The verts look like tele poles. Big brass ones, Quigibo...mega-stout.

Civil War era railroad trestles didn't look that stout.

Wow! Now that's a bridge.

Bridge was built to be simple and try and blend into the surroundings and not stick out and look like foriegn object. Overall thought was to have it look like it has always been there. Originally wanting to go with bois d arch(sp) wood but too difficult trying to find straight enough pieces before it needed to be built to beat filling up. Went with treated pine (rough sides with pieces of bark still showing). Nice look when finished and blends into surroundings. You notice it but at the same time you don't notice it, it does not take away from the pond and surroundings. Uses:Strong enough to be able to drive 4-wheeler over, fish off of, swimming platform, fish structure/shade. Hopefully by now all you see is the decking with all the rain we have had recently.

Quig, that's an impressive structure. I'd sink a few X-mas trees in a few choice spots around the bridge.

Awesome pics, and great job on the project! Thanks for sharing them with everyone. I really enjoy seeing work like this progress.

Eric

And now time for the next installment: Full pool reached in Jan 2007. Appears both the siphons and emergency spill way worked well. Enjoy the pics:
Looking to the left/shallow end
looking in the middle
middle of pond(notice anything funny)
Looking to the deep end
farther to the right/deep end