Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions Compacting soil on groundwater pond?..

I have read and read and find conflicting info on compacting the soil on groundwater ponds?.. I guess I see both sides of the reason and the classic "It Depends" comes into play...

My example for this question is good blue clay from 2 foot below the topsoil to 10-12 feet then super heavy red clay below that that has water coming through on every bucket being removed..

So in groundwater ponds without an inlet and outlet what everyone's opinion?..

Where would the water come from to fill and keep the pond filled?

I am assuming they are hoping for a high water table.. There is also an old well on site that they plan to repair to help fill and keep topped off... I am just going off of the info that a friend gave me... His neighbor is have it dug because another guy needed fill... It is the classic we hope it works for you deal IMHO...

Tell your friends neighbor to try and walk down the banks to the water line, and stand there for a while in one spot. See how comfortable that is.

If the water level bounces like it does in my pond and some clients ponds, then they won't like the steep banks. Impossible to comfortably access the water for any length of time.

If I had my choice with a pond when it's dug on whether to leave it fluctuate with ground water level or line it and compact it with clay (and keep it topped off with a well), I'd pick the lining/compacting every time. There's so many other problems that crop up with a pond that fluctuates greatly in regards to water levels that it's very hard to manage.

That is kind of what I said already... I guess they are done working on it for this year and are going to finish in the spring.. Sounds like it is going to be pie shaped and about twice the size it is now.. I honestly don't see the water level ever making it 5-6 feet from the top of the existing hole.. I would grade all the topsoil back to where is can be maintained with riding equipment and allow for what runoff they could get vs having the steep banks all the way to the top..

I just hate to see people get their hopes up on having a free pond only to have issues down the road that will be a pain to fix..

You can see the direction they are still going in this picture..

You are absolutely correct. One client has a pond where the banks look like that. Groundwater pond. Mowing the plants on the bank is impossible. They now grow 4'-5' tall. Accessing the water is about impossible too, where the banks are that steep. The plants hold the banks from collapsing, but where the water level is, there's an even steeper dropoff because the soil sloughs off into the water due to wave action. 2 ponds were re-worked on one side last year, to make the slope mowable to the water line.

Plus with the changing water level, having cover for the YOY fish in the pond is a huge challenge. In a dry spring, the BG have made beds and had to abandon them due to the water level dropping. Then there is little cover for the YOY to hide in, and while the predators thrive, recruitment is minimal and the forage base suffers.