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#481293 10/19/17 07:26 AM
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Hi, My name is Nolan . I've been lurking around this forum for the last 6 months (when my wife suggested that she would like a pond) It appears that I would build a ground water pond, My 5 acres is sand and when I was moving dirt I hit water at 3 feet. I staked out a 1/3 acre area and had some dirt guys give me a bid to dig it to 12'. Since the pond has to be dug and the sand hauled off (I do not have any where to put it on the property) . I was quoted 35 to 40 thousand dollars (I am not spending that kind of money on just dirt work). Then came Hurricane Harvey and the pond was put on the back burner. Then I got a call from the highest bidder and he needs my sand and will dig the hole for no cost if he can have the sand ( and he needs it now and wants to start on Monday)When I look at my neighbors ponds it looks like it will need to have sloped banks, I would like to aerate, I have a good well(since it will be a ground water pond if I add water with a well will it help low water levels if there is a drought)I have a million questions and I am not really ready but a free hole in is hard to resist. Would you take advantage of this opportunity,They are not "pond" guys. The pond guy I've contacted does not have the equipment to dig wet sand.

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Cheap is good, free is better!

Where in S Texas are you?


4 acre pond 32 ft deep within East Texas (Livingston) timber ranch. Filled (to the top of an almost finished dam) by Hurricane Harvey 9/17. Stocked with FHM, CNBG, RES 10/17. Added 35lbs RSC 3/18. 400 N LMB fingerlings 6/18
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Aransas Pass

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I'm guessing that you have a very stable water table there. Can't be very far above sea level. Probably a perfect place for a sand pond.


4 acre pond 32 ft deep within East Texas (Livingston) timber ranch. Filled (to the top of an almost finished dam) by Hurricane Harvey 9/17. Stocked with FHM, CNBG, RES 10/17. Added 35lbs RSC 3/18. 400 N LMB fingerlings 6/18
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I don't know anything about sand ponds, but if you are committed to putting one in and know you are going to do it eventually regardless, I too would be hard pressed to turn away from free dirt hauling... which is really the problem you are up against based on the original price and your inability to keep it on site. I'd be really leery of having a pond dug but someone who is not a pond guy, but if you have a really good dirt guy with a lot of local experience with your soil type, it's probably the next best thing. It's just my personal, ignorant opinion, but I think a local guy with a lot of know-how on how to deal with your specific wet sand situation may be better than bringing a pond specialist in from afar that has never worked with that type of geology. Maybe someone with experience can chime in with a more educated opinion. If I were in your shoes, I'd take him up on his offer. Good luck! Take pictures of your process and share 'em with us... I love looking at that type of stuff on here. smile

/clayton

ps. I grew up in Ingleside!


96.85840735 percent clayton... the rest is just pi.

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I don't know enough about ground water ponds or your location to give you any advice, but will tell you the way I would approach it.

I would approach something I am unfamiliar with but seems like a good idea with the following questions.
1. has anything similar been done in the area and was it successful? (I assume it has since you mentioned other ponds in the area).
2. What could go wrong? In other words if it does not work out as envisioned, what could be possible negative consequences from the resulting hole in the ground.
3. I would want some assurances that the contractor would perform as promised. Is he reputable? Is he going to get what sand he needs with the hole in disarray and then never show up to finish it? Assuming he is a reputable person, I would want some written guidelines as to what the size, shape and surrounding condition of the hole he leaves. In other words if after half way digging the pond he has enough sand to fill his needs, he needs to finish the pond and stockpile his sand somewhere else anyway. You do not want him getting the sand he needs then leaving a half finished pond with huge ruts leading to it. He needs to finish up to your specs.

That is the way I would approach something I know little about.

Last edited by snrub; 10/19/17 10:37 AM.

John

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I just met the contractor that wants my dirt. It turns out that he has dug several ponds that I am familiar with . Looking good . Got the go ahead for next week

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Good recommendations snrub!! I like that, see how this place works for people smile


Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.


Tracy
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My next job will be to plant grass, We will be 88 degrees today and lows in the 70s . We get northers about once a week during our so called winter and will get highs in the 50s . In twenty years I've seen it freeze about 4 times (that means it got down to 32 for a few hours)I'm thinking of planting a Bermuda Rye mix

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I think that a ground-water sand pond vs. a sealed and compacted clay pond would not require as much pond building experience.

The only recommendations I would have is to make sure and plan for large fluctuations in water level. This means a floating dock that can go up and down with water level and long gradually sloped banks that you can maintain easily when the water is low and wont look unsightly when the water table fluctuates.

With sand, you are unlikely to be able to pump enough water from a well to make up for normal flow through the water table, sort of like farting in a stiff breeze is barely noticed. Before adding the expense of the well, see what your pond does first after a few years of observation.

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The digging has started . How soon can I stock forage? Do I need to feed since it's brand new and no plants? I am a planer and this is happening faster than I was ready for . Interestingly enough I ordered "Just add water" a week before I found out the pond was to be dug (Haven't received it yet )

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You can add forage like fathead minnows as soon as the water is more than a foot deep. Bugs and other small critters will be immediately drawn to the water, and zooplankton will fire right up like magic that the FHM will feed on. It is actually a pretty amazing process to watch.

Then next spring, things will really fire up! Give the forage a year to populate to the point of being able to walk across their backs, and you will be ready to go. Be sure to follow recommendations here to give your pond a boost at the start like proper fertilization to get the biology off to a good start.

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Before you worry about stocking, you should be thinking about structure that goes in the pond before it fills up.

However any of these things can't really be advised unless you let everyone know your goals and wishes for the pond. Do you have a favorite fish that you would like to have in the pond above any others?

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Pictures!!

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Excavator showed up two days ago Almost had to take down my gate and posts to get it through . It turns out that the trucking company lost all there trucks to the storm surge ( Hurricane Harvey) So my contractor is waiting his turn for available trucks. Hopefully they will start today . At this point I am looking at a LMB pond for recreation . I intend to start with FHM,RES and CNBG . I am considering TP (Tilapia I couldn't find the link to the acronyms )But since we rarely have water below 50 and I've been told by local pond owners they can get out of hand. As far as structure since it is a ground water pond it will have water as it's dug and I will have to add it with water in the pond. Between work and home projects I don't get or want much computer time . I would like to add pictures and will try to figure out the procedure (I get frustrated and bored with computers)I would rather be fishing, Hunting, or getting my projects done

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You will want to get opinions from the local Texas guys on stocking your LMB. Your pond is small for trophy fish, I think that would be a tough go. Perhaps stock single sex LMB? Have you considered HSB? Check into Overtons for fish, they would also give good stocking advice. They sell the appropriate tilapia too.

If you plan to have some boulders or rocks in the pond for habitat, you might want to get that lined up. It would be handy for the guy to move it in while the equipment is there.

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