When the NRCS guy designed our main pond, in the design he allowed for a certain percentage of natural compaction or settling of the dam. I can't remember the amount (in the plans that are around here somewhere) but it was something like 2% or 5%. He said we might have none at all if we did a good job of compacting the dam, but he allowed for some anyway.

That tells me natural compaction and settling will occur over time.

John

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