Bob,
Tunza thanx for the square input. I like to believe that I am not "working on the fly" as much as it comes off to be. In the course of 4 years looking through the midwest for "pond-able" property, I had the distinct pleasure to work with about 8 different NRCS offices that spent virtually hours teaching me and lending me knowledge. I laugh to think that I know just enough to be dangerous. Before I bought the property, I was already in touch with the NRCS office securing soil maps and input. The unfortunate part is that out of all the NRCS offices that I had worked with up to that point, this one lacked considerably....numerous reasons, all pointing to potential issues with communication and reliable support. My contractor worked in this same office 15 years ago as the conservation dept officer for 8 years. This, combined with superior references from locals, made my choice easy. Yes, I got a lower bid, but they did not talk-the-talk. You can read a "pond-wizard" when he starts whipping out details like my choice did. He addressed all the details that I had been learning about over 4 years of OTJ training during my search. He is still connected with the local NRCS office, and can/did use them for the details that he needed to handle the engineering. He told me to feel free to have them handle the entire project; no problem with him. Because of my lousy feeling about the potential of trying to work with them, tho, I opted to allow my contractor to over-see the engineering. I am very hands-on and spent alot of time shooting elevations and marking water levels and perimeters. It has been an enjoyable learning experience and I am not disappointed (to date). This is my baby, my biggest project.
The only issue I have is the cost, and quite frankly I doubt that I have a lot of room to cry. I based my projections for clearing timber on what I learned during research, and at $80/hour equipment cost (a cheaper region that I researched), I was told to expect about $1500 per acre. Bumping up to $100/hour equip time, I figured on $1800/acre to clear. He used a D-6 hi track dozer (found out the blade is 12' wide) and a track hoe excavator. I just got the news today...it cost $15,000; cleared, burned, scavenged for roots and clean and smooth as a whistle. It really is beautiful work. I am guesstimating the entire area to be about 5.5 acres. That figures at $2700/acre. I was present for at least half of the work, and truly trust this guy. When I discuss the apparent loss of efficiency, he explains: The timber that I have is relatively young. It is not one big tree, move 15 or 20 feet and get the next one. It is remove one young tree, the next one is 5 feet away in all directions. It becomes a "number of trees" equation, not an acreage equation. His assessment of the timber is accurate. It is one 6" - 8" dia x 80' tall tree after the other. They are so closely spaced that the weeds don't grow under the canopy they create. The only other explanation I can imagine is another obvious one....would it have been more efficient to have 2 dozers and a backhoe....or even 2 dozers and the backhoe on occassion for precision removal at the perimeter. He did run one dozer and one backhoe for equal time. I must say, tho, the the backhoe is also pretty darn important in creating and maintaining the burn-pile, so I don't see how it can be struck from the equipment arsenal.
At this point, I must note that this is a 2-phase project. We are fully cleared and will wait until next summer/fall to build the dam and complete.
For the record, we had one of our extensive and comprehensive discussions regarding what is done and where we are going. I asked him what he thought it would take to bring the project to completion, particularly since I have already told him how much dirt I want to move and what water depths we are going to achieve. Now that the big picture is exposed and VERY clear, I need a firm contractual commitment based on the specified dimensional criteria. He is going to work it up, but shot for the hip: based on a 4.5 - 5 acre water surface, about $3000 per acre to finish. He will make a firm offer and also monitor equipment time. If the equipment time comes in under the firm offer, he will charge me the lesser. Long and short, on this 5 acre pond project, we are at about $30k. All in all, I suppose this isn't horrible. He does very nice work. I am prepared to get what I pay for....I just don't want to pay for it.
P.S. to all else in the forum, thanx for the props.
