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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 14
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 14 |
I want to get a pond going on my dad's land. He called the soil out his way "gumbo mud". I'm not sure what the makeup of it is, but will I have trouble with a pond with this type of mud?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,239
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,239 |
True Black Gumbo is said to be very good for holding water.
The road goes on forever and the party nevers end...............................................
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 773 Likes: 1
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 773 Likes: 1 |
People have all sorts of names for the dirt on their land, but that doesn't mean that's what they actually have. Either get an experienced dirt guy out there, or take samples in to have it tested to know what you actually have.
Remember this, dirt changes at different levels. What you have on the surface is not what you have down deeper. When I dug my small pond, I had red clay, then grey clay. The grey stuff didn't compact very well, so I had to haul it out and use it for fill on a hillside. The red clay has excellent compaction to it and was used to build some roads.
When I dug my big pond, I started out with red clay in parts and black loam in others. I dug down about two feet and hit a really nice layer of brown clay that was another four to six feet thick. Under that was a black clay. It was all different, but when mixed together, created a very strong dam.
Good luck, Eddie
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794 |
I agree with Eddie, local names most often are not in agreement.
Gulf coast “gumbo mud” is nothing more than compacted recent silty sediments, deposited in an estuary environment, acidic in nature.
North Texas Gumbo is actually Cretaceous carbonate weathered soil, alkaline in nature.
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,053 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,053 Likes: 277 |
If you walk on it when it is wet, you will know. If it is clay gumbo, you will get taller with every step you take. That's not all good. When things get hot and dry, it seems to crack. The best dam substance is a sandy loam with about 40% or so clay.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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