Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam Dam question

New to this forum and glad I found it. I have a small swamp approx. 1 acre that I duck hunt. When there is beavers that occupy the swamp there is a good level of water which the ducks love but now beavers are gone and there is about a 5 foot hole where the water is draining out and I want to block this hole so the water returns. What is the best way to dam it up permanently. Thanks for the input.

The beavers will be back this spring. We either shot or trapped 21 beavers off of my ponds this year. It takes them about 45 days to find the old beaver lodges there. Where are you located in Va?

If you don't want to wait for the beavers, you could duplicate their dam with clay soil that's tied into clayey soil that is existing on the property. Use the construction practices that are used to make a dam for a pond.

I'd make sure that there was some way that I could control the water level in that swamp, so it could be drained for planting duck habitat, then flooded before season starts.

Does the whole flooded area back up onto property that you own?

You can try sacks of cement. They will stack just like bricks, easy to use (a little heavy) all the lumber yards handle them. The cost is cheap for what you get. The beavers can almost always make a new hole if they want one, but not where the cement is.
Otto

I like the cement bag idea Mike! Thanks!!!

Been trying to figure out a reasonable upper retaining wall system for a 30' x 80' special purpose pond with 75-80 degree side walls that is built in sand. Of course, it will have a liner. Step ledge with the bags interlocked and SS rods driven thru at determined intervals. Interlocked, rigid, and flexible at the same time

Quick estimate is about 1400 bags (need actual bag dimensions/geometry tho) Heavy work, but that is what Nephews are for

Not gonna happen this year, but I think I can check perimeter collapse off the list!

Thanks!!!