Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Crawdad holes suckin water like a toilet

OK, Yeah, pretty much like the subject line reads. I repaired my dam over the summer and have now started collecting rain since we are coming out of a drought here in Ky. The water has risen enough to start climbing the face of the dam. The original problem with my leak was that the builder of said pond just pushed organic material years ago into the dam. That material has since wrought out leaving voids/pockets of loose soil. I have small lobsters (Crawdads) that have invaded my pond as a result. Some would say great....these things don't leave their holes. They love this soil. As my water rises I can hear slurping and locate a whirl pool as water is falling down a 3 inch crawdad hole made on the face of my dam. Without renting equipment to get on the top of my dam and re-dig my dam back out.......

A) HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST FILLING THESE HOLES PERMANENTLY?

B) WOULD YOU CONSIDER REAPIRING THE BACKSIDE, OR THE FACE? (backside of dam is flowing down into a creek.)

The repair would leave the hole about 7ft under water. This is important because of the water pressure trying to push water down a hole.

I have now stomped 8-10 inches of clay into the hole to retain the water. Its working, but for how long is my concern.

I am no expert, but think it might be best to save up and redo the dam with a good compacted clay core. Otherwise, you might be fighting a losing battle for years. If you do repair the inside face, consider burying fencing that has small enough openings to prevent crawdads from burrowing through. Some use chainlink for muskrats, but that will not likely exclude crawdads.

I am no expert when it comes to crawfish holes and leaks but I did repair a levee core using a track hoe and new clay additions and that has worked. I have crawfish holes around the pond and all of them hold water. I would think as the clays in the crawfish hole swell and seal by being exposed to the water, the holes will stop or slow way down the amount of water a crawfish hole will take. I don't worry so much about the crawfish holes, it's the beaver in the bank holes that worry me. Another beaver was discovered in the ponds bank. Bank holes are way bigger than crawfish holes. I would not sweat the small stuff. And crawfish are great food for many pond fish.