Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Selecting a site On Lassig Pond

Question : why not use the PVC tree (even sideways) vs these porcupine structures? And how many porcupines are you going to use? Looks have you have more in the back?

The trees could be used sideways and I have some that are 8' long and some of these may endup in the pond on there sides. I got a good deal in the procupine spheres and plan on putting in 9 of them. Plus I just like the procupine structures. The structure in the background are the 8' pvc trees

OK, not to steal or sidetrack Bossone's thread on planting trees around a new pond I am adding my current thinking for tree planting here.



As always comments and suggestions are welcomed

Thanks for sharing... now I'll have to post something. <smile>

I was curious why you put the spruce in the back, rather in the front so you could get some color in the winter?

Here was my thinking.

First I wanted shade reasonably close to the bank in a couple of places. The maples and later on (30+ years) the oaks will provide that.

Second I wanted color throughout the year. The color of the red maples and birches in the fall will be pretty. Plan on adding redbuds maybe earlier than later for spring color.

The spruces should give me winter color and block most of the corn/bean field behind them. Since the oaks and maples are spread far apart, they will not have leaves on in the winter, and the spruces are on the top of the bank I think they should be visisble for many years to come, if not forever, atleast my lifetime.

Now you got me thinking of moving a couple of them closer to the water

My situation is different with my pond being basically an extended back yard. We wanted to be able to enjoy the color during the winter and the the tree would outgrow the spruces and you would be able to enjoy their color as well.

Let know what you decide.

OK quick update, It dried out enough yesterday for me to physical layout the tree placement on the north side of the pond. Below is my update layout



Since the pond is almost full and very muddy I am curious if the mud will settle out by itself or need help. So to see where I am at I started a jar test. Here is what it looks like after a day, It hasn't cleared any in one day, not that I really expected it to. Curious to see what happens to this in the weeks ahead.

So, how is your confidence level of the pond being fixed correctly and that it'll hold water like you want?

Fairly high. I understand that is has only been less than 5 weeks since the repair was done and we have gotten a lot of rain over those 5 weeks. But I have a trail camera pointing at the depth guage and it takes a picture once a day (I am not resisdent at the farm). We had an 8 day period without rain and the water level dropped less than 6 inch. Then we got a 2.5 inch rain and the pond went up a foot. The pond has less than 2 feet to go to be full. Actually would of liked it to fill slower now I am fighting alot of erosion and need to get 5 - 6 days without rain so I can get the grass/oats planted.

If it isn't one thing it is another

I have this issue since my construction pond document is supposed to start in 4-6 weeks. The pond was built by damming a stream, by the south and east sides there will be less steep.

Quick update on my pond. It appears to have done well during the six weeks of no rain and dropped only about a foot. We got over an inch of rain on Saturday morning and that brought the pond back up 6 inches. Here is that current picutre of the pond, with 14 new trees added to the north side



We planted the trees on Friday but didn't get the spruces caged into Sunday morning (rain and just had to bow hunt). While Saturday night a buck got into one of them and tore a couple of branches off of it and scraped it up. Wish I had a trail camera there so I could see who it was. Needless to say he would be put on the hit list immediately.

Been a while seen I gave an update on the pond. I was able to get the fish structure out on the ice December 28. Not real clear in the picutre but I place 2 groups of 4 porcupine structures on both sides of where the pier is going to be (closest shoreline). I also took the remaining PVC trees and placed them horizonally along the far and right shoreline.



The ice came off the pond last Saturday night. It is roughly at the same level as it went into winter at. So I would say we have the leak fixed, finally.



So on to the next steps. I am going to plant a Stocks seed water edge mixture right around the water line on the far shoreline (where it looks real rough). I also have to fix the left side and get the conservation/clover mixture to take hold a little better, hopefully frost seed that in the next couple of weeks. Then sometime in the next month we are goign to be digging the foundation of the new house on the right side of the picture. Going to be a busy year.

Almost forgot, since the leak is fixed going to stock the pond this spring. Current plan I have worked out with Nate is the stock 100 4-6" HSB, 250 3-5" HBG, and 100 3-5" BG. This is a little heavy for a pond this size but plan on feeding. Nate gave me a good deal on a Texas Hunter feeder last winter. Also, going to be adding a couple more pounds of Fatheads in the next month. I want those HSBs to be able to just open their mouths and eat.

That's great news, both on getting the leak fixed and starting the house. How did you do during goose season? We ended up with between 50 and 60 on the ground. (Greater Canadians)

Not including what we shot in Sask. we ended up with just over 80. Really a slow year. Usually we shoot 150 - 200. I was at the farm last weekend pruning fruit trees and took a load of building supplies down. I had snow geese all over the place on Saturday. Many where looking to land somewhere and eat. On Sunday while I was packing up to come home I had a flock of 100 - 150 snow geese come right over the trailer at 30 yards. I think that did that on purpose since the shotguns where at home

We're too far East here, we never see any snows. I'd like to get in on one good snow hunt one of these years.

Pond is at an all time high of 12' deep. 2 to 3 more feet and we are full.



I slightly changed my tree planting plan and got them planted late last October. Same day my buddied shot a 146" 3 beam buck on my farm 5 minutes after shooting time (atleast he did waste a lot of time)



Ok now for the next phase of the project. Yesterday we cleared the building site for the house.

Looking to the north before



After

Looking South before



After



The house is a basic ranch of just over 1500 sq ft and a big garage. Here is the rough plan for the basement



Firstfloor



Current plan is to dig the basement around the 24th of this month.

OK daylight is buring and I need to get some foodplots bushhogged before heading home.

Just for Scott, I saw thousands of snow geese migrating over my farm yesterday (and last week)

Thanks! You really know how to hurt a guy.

The locals (Greater Canadians) are pairing up now that the ponds are thawing out.

The house plans look good! Lets hope the rain stays away long enough for you to get the basement done, then rain like heck to fill up the pond.

Well they did say we would start digging the basement around the 24th just not what month. Turned out to be April. Starting digging the basement on Saturday and got most of it done.



Yesterday they finished digging the basement and poured the footings. I had to be at work so all I have is the security camera shot for this. Not the best but was nice being able to watch them work yesterday.



After 8 days on Turkey hunting I was able to get a Jake on Saturday. First turkey I have shot in 2 years. Been tough on the farm this year.

Didn't realize it has been this long since I updated this post. The house got build last year to the point the exterior was done (minus deck). Here is a slide show of a few pics from a year ago. The only thing that has changed is the grass is longer and the chimney has been wrapped in fieldstone.

http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll243/lassig/110925/?albumview=slideshow

I may actually get to finishing the deck next year if the funds hold up after the kitchen gets done.

Now all of the interior rough in is done, I finished it over the winter. This included hanging the drywall. I got smart and hired a local guy to tape the drywall and prime the walls. This was in May. Since then I been trying to finish the Master Bathroom and accomplish this a couple of weeks ago




Now working on the two bedrooms. The flooring for these rooms is 3/4" walnut in 2 1/4" and 3" widths. The wood was harvested from the site when the pond was being build. I have oak flooring (also harvested from the site). I spent a week ago finishing the flooring and just completed finishing the doors and trim. The doors are installed but have to get the trim in, that is on the schedule for this week. Here is a shot of the floor



The other job I have mostly completed (still need to tuckpoint a small section) is the fireplace. My brother inlaw help me get this beast of a firewall install and laid the stone on the fireplace.



What next after getting trim installed in the bedrooms is to get the pine carsiding on the great room ceiling and finish the fireplace. After that it is on to installing the oak flooring in the great room and hallway.

Been a while since I posted an update. The inside of the house is done, has been for a couple of months. Also the deck got finished. A short pictorial of the house is available at

http://s290.photobucket.com/user/lassig/story/9443

Spent a little time fishing this afternoon before deer hunting. Caught a personal best hybrid striper, little over 16" 2 lbs 6 oz.



Caught it on a Clouser Minnow. Problem is I was fishing for the rainbow trout I put in the pond a couple of weeks ago. Caught 7 HSBs but no Rainbows. Going to have to figure out how to catch the rainbows, assuming it will not too difficult. Fortunately I already have Venison meatloaf prepared for dinner and didn't go hungry.

Went to town today I came home to a very happy event. The pond is FULL.
Finally after the drought of 2012 the pond filled up today. It was 3 to 4 feet low and the combination of snow melt and rain has it right now just an inch or two from going through the overflow. I had the feeder in front to the dock and moved it last night in prep for the water to rise. I didn't expect it to rise this much but glad it did and happy that I moved the feeder last night. Here is a picture of it at 4:45 ish. It is up a couple of more inches since than



To put this is perspective here is a picture from 8 days ago. Notice the cages on the far shoreline and how far they are out of the water/snow. Right now the water is on the other side of them and some of them are in a foot of water. The cages are on the left side of the picture above.

Congrats Mark!! I remember all the problems you had with it a few years ago.

Awesome! Congrats lassig!

Awesome!

Thanks Guys I been wondering if this day was going to come. Now of course need to stay there for a while. Watch out for the wind on the back side of this storm, it is really blowing here now.