Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Cost per Yard of dirt moved for dam?

Question with many variables but I don't want to make this complicated.

Im wondering what it cost to move dirt to build a dam. I read back in the files where people were talking $1 per yard. Im not talking about moving it far just basically daming up a deep draw. Basically just need to put up the dam. I'm just looking for what current rates might be based on what you guys have run into. Any ideas, I just need ballparks. What have you run across?

All im doing really is trying to figure out how much it would have cost to build some of the ponds and lakes on our property in todays time. they were all built around 30-40yrs ago.

I can figure the cubic yardage fairly close.

I think your estimate of $1.00 a yard is a reasonable estimate if the dirt is close as you stated. The price increases the further you haul the dirt.

You may find quotes that are a little more or a little less. It all depends on the amount of work a contractor has in the pipeline.

I use a buck a yard for rough estimating on projects around my place, with my own equipement. Allot of times I can do it for half that, but sometimes it costs me more. A bigger machine can move dirt cheaper then a small one, but you need to move allot of dirt to justify the bigger equipment. It costs allot of money just getting equipment on site, then the monthly payments are a constant. Soil type can also play a big role in what it costs to move dirt, as does the working condistions. If I have open space, I can move allot more dirt then I can in a wooded area.

Eddie

I'm reviving this thread to ask a question of my own... I'm talking to a local contractor about building my pond following the plan that our NRCS office creates. It will be an embankment pond of between 3 - 5 acres. Most likely just pushing up a dam and maybe digging a little to deepen a few spots and neaten up the banks. Any leftover dirt should be able to be used to create structure or islands, or if not can be piled up somewhere close by on our large property. They won't need to haul any off. This contractor is based only a few miles from my property, so getting equipment there shouldn't be a problem.

He's quoted $2 per cubic yard moved. Is this reasonable? Should I try to talk him down?

The guy I used this summer charges $1.25 to $1.50 depending on how far it has to be moved/pushed. I paid by the hour and was on site the entire time so I was able to keep the hours that they worked. I got by a little cheaper going by the hour. Maybe that will work for you.

Sounds a little high. We spent 1.25 per yard for 20,000 yard dam. Then paid by the hour for the extras we wanted done. This was 2.5 years ago and fuel cost was way up at the time.

It really depends on how he has to move it. If he's pushing it with a dozer, and it's one operator on one piece of equipment, then it sounds a bit high. If he's paying an operator to load it with one machine, and haul it with another machine, then it's goking to cost more.

Eddie