Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Selecting a site Howdy Ya'll /Getting Land Soon

Just wanted to say Hey to everyone and introduce myself. I started thinking about building a pond a while back and its like a disease that wont let go of my mind now that it might be doable. I am currently in negotiation for 10 acres in Memphis, TN and would like to build a 1-2 acre pond, homestead, and small alpaca farm.

Hoping the clay in area is good but will know in future once I get property to perform tests, etc.

Will post Topo Maps once It is purchased to get your opinion because there is no stream to dam, just watershed without much elevation.

Hoping To use Pond for Fishing/Swimming with a beach area and scenery to see from house.

3 questions to start off with, I am budgeting 30,000 for project and would like to get ya'lls opinion of that for a 1-2 acre pit pond with levees.

ANyone know any good pond consultants/ earth movers in area. Would love to get one contractor to clear trees/dig Pond/and build homestead plot at once.

Is a swimmable pond with fish doable in the midsouth, I know snakes and muddy mucky water are the norm for most ponds in the area.

Thanks in advance.

Hello Doc and welcome to Pond Boss.

Hang on for expert feedback.

Thanks for joining up and posting.

Hello Doc and welcome.

It's not really possible to comment on costs without knowing the area and how much dirt will have to be moved around.

I don't know any dozer drivers in the area but you can check with the NRCS. They will have a list of them. Of course, there is no criteria to getting on the list so be cautious. Check and recheck references. Drive around and see other ponds in the area. Stop and ask questions.

Hi Doc

Congratulations on your impending land purchase and welcome to the PB Addiction!

Dave has great suggestions above - I'd like to add the following.

If I were in your position I would do two things right now:

1. Subscribe to Pond Boss magazine - PRONTO.

2. Pick up the phone and contact Mike Otto. He is an owner of Pond Boss and one the world's premier pond dream builders. He can consult your construction and ensure your project will be completed exceeding your standards. mikeotto@ottosdirtservice.com (800) 882-3478

Welcome to the forum, Doc. We're here whenever you need us!

Just got a survey done. NCRS says the soil is mostly Loren?? unsure about spelling?? and Grenada so it should hold water just fine. Im letting them take a look at this too. But wanted ya'lls opinion of whether this could work. Would like a 1 acre pond made by building a 400 ft Levee 10-16 feet wide and 10 feet deep. As seen on 2nd picture. Is this a good location. I estimate it will get about 5 acres of Watershed from property which is shy of the standard 8-10 acres needed for every acre of pond. The 5 acres will be pastureland with alpacas on it eventually. I think I'll need to build a well for those drought prone summers down here, but am not sure the city will let me. I estimate moving 2800 yards of dirt for the levee maybe 1000-2000 more to deepen pond so a total of 3800- 4800 cubic yards. Maybe I could get by with a 20,000 budget for pond with a 6000 dollar well. Is 10 feet deep enough to maintain the fish life- I will only have about a quarter acre that deep as well? Thanks a Ton ya'll.

Any opinions on this? Are the pictures good enough quality? I left a message with Otto's service but the receptionist said it might be a while before he can get back to me, and I have to make a decision on whether to purchase this land soon.

I'm no expert but I would be concerned about the insufficient watershed. IMHO this will guarantee a huge fluctuation in water levels throughout the year. This happens on my pond but we overcome this to some degree by have a deeper pond (mine is 17-18 feet deep). Which brings me to my next concern - without sufficient watershed you should have a deeper pond (IMHO).

I would hold off the purchase until you hear back from Otto. You will be very frustrated if you purchase the property and find that it will not support the pond that you desire. Mike Otto is a premier pond builder and a great guy (quite funny to boot). He knows his stuff and will steer you in the right direction.

Will the Alpacas be "uphill" from the pond? In other words will this pasture be part of the watershed?

10 feet deep ought to be OK. However, as pond owners in Texas and Oklahoma are finding out, you really can't have too much water when a drought hits.

Are the pictures good enough quality?

Another issue you might have is as you have it drawn you don't have a spillway if the lines on the boundary are the property lines you may run into trouble with the adjoining land owners if the water is forced in another area than it would normally leave this property.