Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions leak slowed or stopped

My leak has either greatly slowed or stopped at about 17 inches below full pool. The water is fairly clear and I don't see any obvious leaky places around or near the waterline. I was losing about 3/4 inch a day on days with little evaporation until reaching this level. If it doesn't get much lower my fish are probably OK for this season; most are still on the small side. Advice on finding the annoying leak?

John,
Glad to hear that the leak seems to have slowed/stopped.. Can you link us to posts with pictures of your pond or post current pictures? Maybe the layout of the pond, or what is found at the 17" below full pool level will give us some ideas.

Are there inflow/outflow channels or creeks anywhere?
Dam? What is it like behind the dam? Any place where the vegetation looks very nice and green

Perhaps the topsoil wicking has stopped and the clay compaction is better from 17" and down?

If time tells you that it stays pretty good at this level (outside of evaporation with a bucket evaporation test) then you could spot treat with soilfloc again just on the exposed bank and up on shore a bit.

Great news that your leak problem is improving John.

Only thing I can think of is walk the whole area where the potential leak is and see if you can feel any soft spots or changes in the way the ground feels when being walked on. My thinking is maybe the area that had a lot of water flowing and leaking out might show up as a soft spot or some different physical "feel" to the area.

Just shooting in the dark here. Have no idea if that might work.

Over half of it I cannot walk around next to the water because it is too steep and slick. I am going to put my rubber boots on and walk the parts I can. Good idea.

Got a small shallow draft boat?

I have a canoe. How could I make use of it to find a leak?

Go around the edge of the pond and look for any sand/gravel. A vein might have not been covered up with clay.

Wish my leak would slow or stop. With the draught I'm down 4'. We are supposed to get some rain this weekend though!
I would think you could pretty accurately pinpoint the leak now.

I waded around with rubber boots and found a soft area just below the water line at the new part of the dam. It's about 25-30 feet long. Looks like an area of poor compaction. I stomped it in as best I could and muddied up the water at the edge. Might get a few bags of Bentonite if y'all think that would help.

Maybe repeat that procedure several times ofer the next week or two.

I have no experience with Bentonite clay, but other than your pocketbook, it surely can't hurt.

If you can pinpoint a leak that accurately then a single unit or half unit of soil floc in that area and just above that area may seal it?

I have stomped down that area three mornings in a row now. It's about two to three feet wide and about 15 to 20 feet long. My rubber boot goes down about six inches into the clay and it's hard to pull it out, but I think I have mixed and compressed it some so far. Only lost 3/8 inch yesterday, and it was hot and dry. I think evaporation would take that much out.