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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2
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OP
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2 |
We have recently dug out and existing pond that was only about 6ft deep and leaked. The guy that dug the pond out for the previous owner did not do a very good job with the core on the dam. When I had another guy dig the pond out, he dug down about 13ft. below the old tube to make the core and then back filled it with clay. The pond now in the center is about 10-12 ft deep. We have recently had rain and the pond has filled up. It is about a 3/4 acre pond. The pond has a lot of run off water going to it. Yesterday the pond finally got to the level that it should be at without running water out of the tube. I marked the water line with some flags and this morning I went out and checked the water level and it has gone down 1 inch since yesterday.
Is there a need to be concerned about the water dropping an inch or am I just getting overly nervous bc I really want the pond to hold water?
Any Ideas or suggestions would be great!
Thanks!
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282 |
I would give it a few days. Water will soak into soil above the core and lower the level until this soil is saturated, but if it keeps dropping, you may have an issue. Sorry - no great wisdom to offer.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,049 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,049 Likes: 276 |
Agree with RAH. The water is wicking back into the soil.
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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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2
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OP
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2 |
That is what I was thinking, but it still makes me nervous!
Thanks!
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,182 Likes: 29
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,182 Likes: 29 |
Yeah, I had the same worry when my pond sat at the same level for days despite water coming in at a good clip. However I have been taking pictures at the same spot to the same point since pond inception and while the pond was staying the same, the dam was settling a great deal. The dam lost almost 6" of elevation during that time by my estimates, so I believe water was saturating all of the holes in the recently dug dam, and the soil was then shifting and plugging the holes. Now the water has resumed climbing and has almost reached the overflow.
I have been sweating it out since October in hopes I didn't have a leak! I have probably lost more sleep over the pond than I did waiting for our adoption to finalize.
-Mark W.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,752 Likes: 33
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,752 Likes: 33 |
Pond dams are supposed to be overbuilt to allow for shrinkage. I believe it takes 15% more than the height you want if built by a dozer alone. 6-9% for dams built by scrapers. The dirt will natural settle and packing can help reduce this.
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