Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Drain pipe failure...replacement suggestions

Hello everyone,

I've got a 3.1 acre pond in West Georgia that was probably built in the mid 60s. It has a metal 12" drain/overflow pipe that sits perpendicular to the lake's surface. A previous owner seems to have inserted a 6" pvc pipe into this. Maybe because the metal pipe was noticeably failing. The water runs into the metal pipe and the pvc. It eventually dumps into a creek on the other side of the dam.

The pipe has been clogging about 10 to 12 feet vertically down from the water level and I've been unclogging it with a telescoping paint pole. That's worked three times now in the past nine months, but it seems at this point, the pipe has finally collapsed fully. I do have a workable spillway that handles the overflow well, but i'm worried the soil will eventually erode in that location.

I've realized the current, old pipe has a significant vertical drop prior to angling out to the creek behind the dam. I was hoping that I don't have to replicate that. My intent would be to replace it with a 2 to 3 ft vertical pipe that elbows in the lake, then runs horizontally across the dam, then runs diagonally down the back side of the dam to the creek. This would limit the excavation on the top of the dam.

At this point, I need to create a temporary siphon to lower the water level and then begin the excavation. But, I'm sure I'm overlooking a large number of steps and issues that are required in this process.

I would love to hear anyone's thoughts/suggestions/critques on this process so that I avoid any issues that might arise.

Thanks for your help!

Obligatory pond pic...

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I don't have a dam so can't help you but there have been several good diagrams posted in various threads on a do it yourself siphon.

Here is one, see the sketch that is attached as a picture in the first post:
Siphon system

Another:
Siphon thread

This one has great pictures:
Siphon System

And this is a Bill Cody special (thank you!), an archive of all things relating to siphon systems:

Siphon Archives

Canyoncreek,

Thanks for all the details on this. There's definitely some great information there. I think I've got the temporary siphon figured out, but it's the permanent drain pipe replacement that's going to be the bear of this job.

The siphon systems described in the posts are permanent primary systems that can be used instead of other other exit pipes. They require less draining and have other advantages over alternative systems.