Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Pond Leak

I constructed a pond this past aug. The dam is now leaking. Its losing aprox. 5 inches a week.
The pond is 1.5 acres and constructed of heavy
yellow clay. I can't tell exactly where it is leaking but there is a 40-50 foot stretch on the backside of the dam that is constantly soaked.The clay was a little dry when it was built. Does anyone think that maybe the soil hasn't completly settled and the freezing and thawing this winter might seal it up?

The dam is 100% yellow clay, no top soil at all.
The key way is 8 feet deeper than the dam and 12 feet wide.didn't use a roller but I think the D9
dozer did a fair job of compacting. All top soil was placed over the dam after it was completed.
We never hit bedrock or shale, not even a gravel pocket. Can't figure out why its leaking. My contracter has been building ponds and lakes for 10+ years and can't figure it out either. It's only been full 3 months but wouldn't think it would seep this much.

It's leaking too much. But, don't panic yet. Watch it until summer, and see if the seepage slows. If not, consider taking corrective action this summer. Lots of suggestions, but as you progress through spring, watch the pond. I have a leaky pond, but the water is going around the dam, not through it. We tied it into two hills, and water pressure pushed water laterally, through the hills. We plan to use bentonite, after soils dry a bit. So, hang in there, study the dam more, then decide what to do.

On the D-9, big dozers push lots of dirt in a single pass, sometimes faster than the dirt can be properly compacted. In TX the soil conservation has different shrinkage percentages based on what type of equipment that you are using. Many people make the mistake of thinking that a big heavy piece of equipment will do a great job of compacting. Dozers spread out their weight over a large area, consequently compaction can be an issue. Excavating heavy clay soils usually produces good sized clods, these clods can make voids in the dam. Give mother nature time to work. A year for a new pond/lake to seal is not unusual.

Nick Jones
www.soilmovers.com