Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Small backyard swimming hole

Hey first post.

I have a small basin in my backyard that has a spring flowing through it. It appears it was previously dammed up as there is remnants of an old dam. I recently started digging it out with intentions to create a small swimming hole i can jump in to cool off. Total surface area is about 25' x 20'.

It hasn't had attention in what appears to be many many years. It was filled with probably 2 ft + of mud/sludge and black stinky leaves. It sits at the edge of the wood line. Spring has good flow, probably 2 -3 gallons a minute at least.

I paid a guy digging a foundation across the street to come and dig for me and he really helped get things moving as I was digging with shovel and 5 gallon buckets to remove mud and get back down to clay.

When I'm finished it should be about 5 ft deep at deepest spot. Enough to jump in.

There is still about 18" of sludge in the very bottom. It's like quick sand. One step and your boot is sunk and held fast. I'm concerned that after it is filled someone could get foot stuck in mud and become stuck underwater.

Also being underneath trees I'm sure this muck will continue to pile up. I'm going to have a neighbor with a mini excavator come do a little more digging before i start to build the dam. Ill have him dig as much sludge out of bottom as possible.

I am renting the property and got the green light from landlord to do all this but I'm trying to keep costs down as I don't get to take it with me when I leave.

So for dealing with seemingly bottomless mud at bottom, my thought were to sink bags concrete to help create a more solid floor to the deep end which is probably an 8ft circle at most.

I though this would help prevent getting stuck in mud as well as being easier to clean out the bottom since I'll never keep leaves from falling in and piling up.

What do you all think about this idea?

Welcome to PBF Mike,

As you point out, people sink in muck. I suspect your bags of concrete will as well if the remaining muck layer is very thick. I would remove as much muck as I can. Maybe one of the other folks will have an opinion that is more helpful

Anyway, again, welcome!

Bill D.

If you have a place to dump the mucky water, perhaps a trash pump could be used like a vacuum cleaner to remove the muck? I have never tried this, but maybe someone who has tried it could comment on how well this works? Might be cheaper than an excavator?