Yes SW MI definately has a lot of sandy soils. The area is lower, riverbottom soils and completely flat. The soil is classified as gilford sandy loam. The top foot or so of soil is very fine black dirt - excellent soil for my foodplots. Under that to a depth of around 5 feet is what I would call mottled sand, or water sand.
I'm trying to avoid pumping from the river or many of the streams that flow on the border of my property for concerns of the agricultural runoff. I'm blessed with being in an area with artesian, or flowing wells. I put an 1.25" well in by hand last summer to around 40' that flows at 1 gallon per minute. I was thinking that if I needed additional water, I could have a larger well driven next to the pond and have it continuously feed the pond.
In terms of clearing the site by the barn, should I just plan on having everything burned? I was thinking that the stumps could just be pushed back into the woods for wildlife cover.
I'm waiting until the snow melts this spring to have the contractor come out to the property. Anyone want to share a guesstimate of the cost to clear and dig a 1 acre pond?
