Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Another leaking pond

We have a 2.5 acre pond built last August. It filled real quick this winter and was going over overflow. About 6-8 feet mostly, with up to 15 ft deepest. A professional dug the pond. He hit rocks which opened a spring. He was VERY worried about leaking. He built a 4' mini dam inside the pond which would isolate this "spring" to about 1/3 of the pond. Now that ground thawed, pond is going down about 1" per day. Is down about 3' and still going down.
We have heard about putting BARLEY straw in the pond for leaks. Anyone heard of such a thing?? If so, do you put it in whole or do you open up the bale?
If we go the bentonite (sp?) method - how do you know how much?
Last resort, if it gets down to the 4' dam, we can see if the side with the "spring" keeps going down & the other side holds. If so, we may have to drain the leaking side & do we "pack with clay"?

Simme Valley,

Not sure I understand the concept of a "mini dam", but yes, if you can not live with the leaks, packing the entire area with 2 feet of clay is, IMO, the highest probablity of success. I've been told by those who mine and sell it, you need a minimum of 8 pounds per square feet of bentonite and that the application generally has a much higher probability of success in an empty pond than in a full one.

Your situation is exactly why many of us always recommend that all springs, especially those near the dam, should be covered with at least 2 feet of clay during construction, in order to avoid the exact problem you have.

Pond leaks are difficult problems to solve, especially after the fact. Many different home remedies have been suggested. Barley straw may be such a remedy, but I personally doubt the effectiveness. On the other hand, it doesn't cost much to try it.

Simme Valley,

Welcome to PB! I would go with your last resort first. Continue to monitor the pond to isolate where the leak is. Once isolated, follow ML's comment on packing the leak with 2' of clay.
On a side note, if the leak is in the bottom of the pond, you could pack clay and build it up to the point you have a nice little underwater knoll/mound to use as a fish attractor. Good Luck

Thanks for your input.
We have been extremely dry, and the pond was built with a bulldozer, so ground is not packed real well. The land surrounding the pond is still very "squishie". We have had many tell us that it's not uncommon for a pond to not hold water the first year. Is this just "wishfull" thinking?

Simme,

No, it's not at all unusual for a pond to loose water in that first year or so. Especially if it was built during your extremely dry conditions. A lot of water is absorbed and while that dry clay settles and packs more you can have seepage. In fact, two out three ponds I've done have had seepage initially. However, if it continues much past a year or so and is more leakage than you can tolerate, then you are faced with some decisions to make. Hopefully, you won't get to that point.

Thanks, that's encouraging.
The "mini dam" was a 4' ridge built across the pond separating the "spring" from the main part of the pond. If the "spring" continues to leak, we will salvage at least 4' of water on the main portion of the pond.
Thanks again for all the replys.