Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Clearing trees from dam

Guys I'm looking for advice on clearing quite a few established trees from my long neglected dam



The dam is on the left in this picture. As you can see I have years of overgrowth.

Do I simply cut down every tree possible from the water line to where the backside of the dam meets the ravine grade at the outlet?

Here's a narrow shot of the outlet


Should I drop a tree or two into the water for cover?

Is it ok to just leave the fallen trees on the dam? The pond is in a deep ravine so getting any equipment down to the dam is extremely difficult to say the least.

Thanks!!!

What I've always heard: Don't cut a tree that is over 4 inches in diameter. When it dies, it causes a void that can compromise the dam.

So should I leave all the trees as is? I thought the trees growing on the dam would cause leaks as their roots propagate

From what I hear when they die the void created by the rotting roots is where the leaks can come from.

Same way with tree roots under a house foundation. When the tree dies the rotted roots leave a huge void and your foundation will sag into the void. The bigger the tree the bigger the void.

so what is the plan of action when a tree dies? There are plenty of under growth trees in the 4-6" range that I'll get cleared out this spring. I'm just a bit worried of the larger trees coming down at some point.

Take out the stump if you can and pack layers of damp clay into the hole. Keep at it until it no longer settles.

As a rule of thumb for your larger trees close to the dam (please read "rule of thumb") a tree's root system rarely exceeds the span of it's branches. Keep in mind that a BOW may encourage the roots to deviate from this concept. I would think about removing any undesired trees above the 4" diameter that are on the back side of the dam especially if the branches are not over hanging the top of the dam. This rule of thumb should help you determine if the roots are protruding through the dam far enough to eventually rot away causing the tunnel for water leaks. I'm sorry I can not be more exact, but hopefully you can make some judgment calls on what trees to cull.

If you have any Osage orange hedge, locus trees, or catalpas, you should use Tordon RTU to kill the root system or you will have a ba-gillion little trees growing up from the stump or surrounding root systems. It is easy to use and does not cost much although it's warning labels would be worth reading, seems like pretty nasty stuff.

Dropped trees in the pond make nice structure/habitat. I left a few overhanging trees when my pond was renovated that will eventually fall into the pond as the bank has washed away and I don't even like walking under them, they are that sketchy. Eventually they will add to the pond environment. Be warned that dropping too many green oaks (I believe, maybe others as well) into a pond can potentially cause a fish kill due to the tannins that leak out of the tree into the water. Maybe someone can chime in on how many would be too many.

If you take out a lot of trees and leave them lying, you will be allowing more light to hit the ground causing more growth of who knows what. This would cause maintaining the dam to become a real pain with all the tree trunks and limbs lying around. Just imagine trying to weed eat a bunch of brush with all the hidden trip hazards lying at your feet. I would at least cut it up, throw it down hill and make some rabbit shelters (piles) at the base of the backside of the dam.

I pack all the cut brush and trees down to the foot of the dam. Quarter acre is right, leaving them lie is trouble for the next time you need to be on the dam. I've always said that cutting brush is the easy part. Doing something with what you've cut is the hard part.