FWIW I would not stock BH but I would not nuke the pond if I got them. IMO they will provide forage for the LMB and a mess the size you have in the pic would make for a tasty Friday night fish fry as a bonus.
So we had this resident mallard that decided he liked Cargill fish food. He knew when every throw was, and would paddle over to the downwind side of the feeders, and get all the food that floated away. In short, he was a pet.
So one day I'm sitting in the office, and see this huge Bald Eagle repeatedly dive bombing our mallard. My boss is wanting to run out and scare the eagle off, and I'm wanting to wait and let nature take it's course. It was just to close to a National Geographic moment to be interfered with. After repeated failed attempts, the Bald Eagle gave up, and just flew over to the dam and watched the mallard swim away.
This summer, our mallard was molting and ultimately got permanently retired by a big red tailed hawk.
Previous owner had built a pond below the main pond in a low area behind the dam. Later he went back and cut the lower dam and put in a culvert to drain the area......he did not tell me why but the the utility company may have complained as it looks like it flooded their easement. Now I have to decide weather to try and relocate this dam and build another pond or just put in a BIG culvert to keep this from happening again. Its 8 feet from the road surface down to the culvert at the bottom and blew out after the recent heavy rains.
Read your easement contract or ask the power company to provide you with a copy. Probably recorded at the courthouse. Someone at sometime signed giving them a easement and outlined any restrictions.
Dear Alcohol, We had a deal where you would make me funnier, smarter, and a better dancer... I saw the video... We need to talk.
I worked for an electric utility for 35 years. When someone built a pond and it put poles in the water, we usually moved the poles. I can't remember any pond causing an emergency. In fact, some poles and lines are still in ponds after many years as long as they don't have line clearance issues. Most residential distribution line easements are not recorded unless fairly recent.
I bought a 1979 45' float for a bridge project across a creek at the back of my property. The bogies and jack legs will be cut off before the trailer is set and welded to steel post set in concrete at the corners. Yes I put the "R" in Redneck.
On edit: I priced having a bridge built and it was going to be between $9-$10k. Found the 45 foot flat bed for $3k + $900 for labor which included cutting the under carriage off, welding pipe footings and cement.
Had the trailer pulled to the back of the property and turned over so the under carriage can be cut off. Then it will be set across the creek.
I also had this little 10' X 20' cattle guard bridge built for one of the creek crossings. They welded posts to the bottom, set and marked holes, dug the holes, set it in place and poured concrete.
This skid steer dug each 4 foot hole in 20-30 seconds. I was amazed. Setting it in the holes.
Digging clay to build up the tank dam and repair the spillway on this small pond. They also repaired two other pond tank dams on the property.
Bridge #1 set in place. Dirt/rock approaches to follow.
Bridge #2 set in place. This was a 45 foot flatbed trailer that we cut the undercarriage off of. Posts were welded to the bottom.
Trackhoe carried it to the creek and set it in place. Dirt/rock approaches to follow. We will also replace the rest of the boards.
Bridge #3:
This one was built in place where the road was washed out by the heavy rains. The trackhoe pushed four ten(10) foot long 5" pipe posts(1/2" wall) into the dirt like tooth picks. They only drilled 3 foot deep pilot holes.
#3 Nearing completion. The sucker rods were heated, bent down and welded to the pipe.
We also added sucker rod to two existing cattle guards for smoother transition.
![[Linked Image]](http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=11852&filename=I_subscribe_zps2qlyoyn2.gif)
