After I just realized that I knew nothing about ponds...I hired a guy (zork) to dig one on my acreage. I was reluctant to speak about my concerns (I hate it when someone tries to tell me how to do my job) but I did vocalize that my major concern was..after all was said and done....regret not having a larger pond. We had roughly estimated the size of the pond to be approximately 120 yards. About 3/4 of the way done now and Zork meets up with me to discuss his intentions and explain why he was creating a descending slop towards the deep end for safety reasons in case animals, kids, etc.. ...get around my pond. I had read somewhere that a gradual slope would encourage a healthy eco system but he only mentioned the safety factor... Ok, it took me a while to digest the 'Visual' but after a few days, I realized this slope is leaving me with only 40 yards of diving/swimming area inside my pond. I called Zork and let him know that I may need a steeper slope. Even though his bulldozer is parked at my neighbors, he let me know that he would need to bring the crane back but it would cost me more money. Is this the way it's typically done in this type of construction? Not sure how to handle this so any help would be appreciated.
Hard to say, but you have to tell the builder what you want, to get what you want. It is cheaper to do it up front and only move dirt once, but still worth a little extra to get it the way you want it. Sounds like you are to far in to do a 180 and get another builder, so I would work with him and ask how much more? Gradual slopes promote weed growth, which isn't always a good thing. 3:1 slope is what many suggest.
Last edited by BrianL; 06/14/1609:58 AM.
1.8 acre pond with CNBG, RES, HSB, and LMB Trophy Hunter feeder.
urbanGoBig your soil and how well it stands up will determine slope. I have 3-1 for 12 feet then it gos just about vertical. We have the most incredible clay you could ever have for a pond. It is like cement.
If you have sandy soil at all digging a steeper slope will just cave in after full of water.
This bad boy is 16 feet deep as you can see from the last picture of me and my boys placing a combine tire down there. Those cement tiles are 36".
Don How was it dug that steep. did you start with a dozer and then finish with an excavator? By the way what part of Ontario are you in? That clay looks just like mine.
We are just North of Lucan but south of Exeter one road east of hwy#4.
The dozer was only used for stripping the top soil back and spreading the clay around. Everything was done with a old 590 JD high hoe. The lip to hold the 4" medium crushed concrete was made with the back of the bucket of the high hoe then packed as pulled up the bank.
Then all the rock was placed with the high hoe as well. Then all the top soil put back on and around.
My pond is in the same sort of nearly pure clay, with only an occasional small rock. But, mine leaks, and I cannot see where the water is going. Maybe into the water table, who knows. Being in pure clay is not an indication a pond will hold water. It appears your clay was not compacted. You are lucky if it holds.
Don we are about 3 hrs apart, I am in Caistor Centre. The term Caistor clay is common in this area. When you dug, did you transport the soil away or just spred it around the area. Approx how long did it take to excavate that much soil. My ponds were done mostly by dozer and I'm thinking that maybe your way is better. I'm planning a re-do next summer.
My pond is in the same sort of nearly pure clay, with only an occasional small rock. But, mine leaks, and I cannot see where the water is going. Maybe into the water table, who knows. Being in pure clay is not an indication a pond will hold water. It appears your clay was not compacted. You are lucky if it holds.
No sheeps foot just the dozer packed the clay banks. We missed the spring by three feet on the east side. Pond holds very well and seams to only loose what we loose for evaporation. The first three years it took water like crazy but the clay is packed in tight now after a couple of winter frosts.
Originally Posted By: willywonka
Don we are about 3 hrs apart, I am in Caistor Centre. The term Caistor clay is common in this area. When you dug, did you transport the soil away or just spred it around the area. Approx how long did it take to excavate that much soil. My ponds were done mostly by dozer and I'm thinking that maybe your way is better. I'm planning a re-do next summer.
We gave away about 50 tri axle truck loads of clay to the Lucan lions club for their tractor pull track. Some great gumbo clay for the track. I gave away about 15 tri axle loads of top soil to the excavator to keep costs down. Didn't need the foot print of the pond for top soil. Digging was about five days with the little 590. Bacause the hoe was so small I would after work move piles of clay back so the excavator didn't need to move the dirt twice for the size of the pond. Check oil fuel her up and grease her up so the operator could just give her in the morning. Dozer work was about three days. The dozer was very big and new it would push mountains of dirt. Nice AC cab great of fuel.
Thanks for the info, I think I will be using excavator and dump trucks for my re-do. Your timeline is much better then mine, I got three times that many days into my two 1/2 acre ponds with just a dozer.
Yes it is really hard for a dozer only to dig a nice well laid out pond. They can make a nice square or rectangular pond with lots of fuel but nothing that is steep and deep with some nice curves in it.
Sorry for the late reply...and Thanks for the tips: I was also told by my pond guy that I should plan on planting grass asap... If anyone could offer advice on what type of grass, when to plant, etc.... I would be so grateful.
Annual rye will pop up out of the ground in a few days if given enough moisture. If you can, get a grass seeder that puts the grass seeds barely under the surface of the dirt, then cover with an erosion blanket. The annual rye is a temporary thing, talk to some locals to see what type of grass grows the best there.
You can't just throw the seeds out and expect them to sprout, you have to water them too.
A client threw out some Bermuda and it never came up. BUT he didn't water it either. I took some of the same seeds, raked an area, sowed the seeds, covered with 1/8"-1/4" dirt, set out a sprinkler, and put a timer on it so it watered the area every 2 hours. 13 days later the Bermuda started to pop out of the ground. I did some research, and depending on the type of Bermuda, it could take from 7-30 days to germinate if soil temps are above 70°F.
If I were to do it over I would buy a couple of pallets of bermuda sod and checker board it then plant seeds some rye in the voided area. Bermuda seed doesn't do very good for the cost, unless you can put alot of water on it till it it gets established. Sod would be much easier.
1.8 acre pond with CNBG, RES, HSB, and LMB Trophy Hunter feeder.
Ok, sounds good....I've spread some fertilizer and will soon be spreading the Rye...spring planting of lovegrass was recommended so I guess it'll have to do, just wish it wasn't so expensive. . . 250.00 for 50lb bag
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