Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Renovate possibilities?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been absent for quite a while. I switched careers and will hopefully be in a position to purchase some land in the next year or two. I’ve had my eye on a certain lot since I became interested in owning a pond. This pond has changed a ton in ten years. I have a few pictures from 2008 when the pond was 4-5 deep in most spots with tons of muck and leaves built up on the bottom. The clarity was fairly good though.

I also recall during heavy rains that water would spill into the roadway. I am unsure if this is a dig out pond or if it’s just a collection site. I’m hoping that if the side that spills over is raised up It may increase depth but I’m not quite sure as I haven’t really looked at the lay of the land since 2008. I may head out there next week for additional pictures. I don’t remember seeing any fish in the pond when I was cruising it on my float tube.

I looked on google maps and I can see that the pond is now choked with weeds and vegetation. I’m not even sure if it’ll be worth trying to save or if I’d be better off tying to get acreage and building a fresh pond.

Any opinions or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

RB

Cleaning out an old pond can be a real character builder. And expensive.

Probably get acreage and build a fresh pond. I've been through the "renovation" process and it still leaks.

Agree with the first two replies.

I have had experience cleaning out three old ponds and building three four new ones doing the work myself or with the help of some of my hired farm hands running the machinery. I actually did all the clean out of the old ponds myself.

I can tell you from experience, building new is a lot more "fun" from running the equipment side than cleaning out old. Moving muck (usually multiple times) is NO fun.

Often times when people come on here posting a site with an old pond asking about enlarging/cleaning it out, I look for adjacent areas to build a new pond instead. Unless the old pond is just in a strategic location (like right out your front of back door) I suggest leaving the old pond "as is" as a trash fish or kids fishing pond and just build a new pond somewhere else on the property. It is often much cheaper, quicker and better to build new than refurbish old.

Here is one of my three experiences of cleaning out an old pond. And in this case the pond was so old it was almost completely dry. Almost.

Reclaiming a 50 year old pond

Edit: I do not own an excavator. An excavator is almost a must in a pond renovation so hiring the right experienced crew with the right machinery would make all the difference in the world.