I paid 2800.00 to have a 1/3 acre pond dug that was for 51 hours with a backhoe operator at 55.00 per hour. I did not have to pay to have the dirt removed (56 loads with a semi-hauler) a local needed it for fill and paid to have it loaded and hauled but figure he spent another 1000.00 for the dirt so that will give you some idea what it runs here in North Alabama. The operator I used is a septic tank installer but was willing to listen and follow my instructions and drawings and I ended up with a very nice pond in the front yard.