Soil boring test for pond. Can it hold water?

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Soil boring test for pond. Can it hold water? #484347 12/19/17 02:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 3 Lafayette, Louisiana, USA J JBM OP
OP JBM J Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 3 Lafayette, Louisiana, USA	I had a soil boring test done to determine if a certain location on my property would be suitable to hold water for a pond about 1/4-1/2 acre in size and 8'-10' deep. I was wondering if any of you could help me interpret these results? L.L. = Liquid Limit; P.I. = Plasticity Index 0-2' L.L. is 38%; P.I. is 14 (dark brown silty clay) 2'-4' L.L. is 31%; P.I. is 10 (dark brown and black silty clay) 4'-6' L.L. is 37%; P.I. is 14 (reddish brown silty clay) 6'-8' L.L. is 37%; P.I. is 15 (reddish brown silty clay) 8'-10' L.L. is 39%; P.I. is 17 (reddish brown silty clay) 10'-12' No data 13'-15' L.L. is 35%; P.I. is 12 (reddish brown silty clay) Boring terminated at 15'. Last edited by JBM; 12/19/17 04:12 PM.

Re: Soil boring test for pond. Can it hold water? JBM #484367 12/20/17 07:23 AM
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 16,051 Likes: 277 Hurst & Bowie, Texas D Dave Davidson1 Moderator Lunker
Dave Davidson1 Moderator Lunker D Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 16,051 Likes: 277 Hurst & Bowie, Texas	JBM, welcome to Pond Boss. I understand PI but not LL. According to Mike Otto's book Just Add Water you should have a PI between 13 and 30. Mike mentions several "field tests". Moisten it and make a ball about the size of a golf ball. Drop it from about shoulder height. If it breaks apart, add more moisture and try again. If it passes the ball test, get a handful and start rolling it out like a cylinder. If it holds together when it gets pencil size, it ought to make a dam. It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color. Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done. Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP

Re: Soil boring test for pond. Can it hold water? Dave Davidson1 #484380 12/20/17 10:29 AM
Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 3 Lafayette, Louisiana, USA J JBM OP
OP JBM J Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 3 Lafayette, Louisiana, USA	Dave, thank you for the response. Very helpful!

Re: Soil boring test for pond. Can it hold water? JBM #504563 04/19/19 05:38 AM
Joined: Apr 2019 Posts: 111 Likes: 1 Lafayette, LA K Kris B
Kris B K Joined: Apr 2019 Posts: 111 Likes: 1 Lafayette, LA	Hey JBM - who did your soil boring? I'm looking at having Louisiana Testing come out to my place in Lafayette but the price was steeper than I expected. Kris