Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Selecting a site Biloxi River Blue

Hello Gents & kindred pond-loving souls

As a new forum member and soon-to-be subscriber to Pondboss, let me state what you already know ... This is an amazing website, and we're blessed to have such resources at our fingertips.

I'm currently in Saudi nearing retirement in a few years. On our last visit back home in April, the wife and I bought 12 acres in very pretty country with rolling hills and draws near the Biloxi River headwaters just east of Poplarville ... It took us about two seconds to decide that we wanted to buy it. As a bonus, we're right next to our favorite aunt and uncle.

The property has a freshwater creek and springs in a deep draw right in the middle of the 12 acres loaded with oaks/hardwoods as visible from satellite (flow = 100+ gals/min). The area has spotty but significant deposits of blue clay (exact chem comp unknown) that is used by the locals for pond levees. My Civil Engineering and construction experience is relative to Oil & Gas Industry lined ponds ... I have no experience on fish pond applications, but have long wanted to set up a fish pond and even a small hatchery operation ... so I ain't scared. It's really nice to have the luxury of a few years to plan it well before executing the plan.

Problem: My uncle on the property adjacent to me (just downstream on the same creek) already had a clay levee installed last year by a local contractor at a cost of $7,000 on the cheap ... and the uncle now has a two acre pond max depth 15 feet with LB, BG and catfish ... an acre or two of my property has been flooded as a result (maximum depth two feet).

The hardwoods in the pond were left standing and have not yet died. I didn't like the idea of leaving them and told my uncle that they should have been taken out first ... I thought it best to eliminate the trees first and then re-assemble them later for cover after dozing a nice contour around the pond. These trees are going to die and eventually they'll lay down ... but what a mess it's gonna be.

Some folks down here swear on leaving these oaks/hardwoods alive and flooding them over ... I just can't see doing it that way and having a healthy pond for any significant time. I think I'll have to install two levees / access roads and make a separate pond with overflow into the uncle's pond. The total area under water will likely be about six acres when I'm done, and we'll put those tree trunks back in the pond for cover after they've been felled and dried out nicely in the woodpile.

Anyway, it's gonna be a fun few years ahead and I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead and reading the great posts.

Regards,
Blue

Hi Blue welcome to Pond Boss, we're glad you found us. Thanks for jumping in and posting.

Sounds like you have a great property. Post photos and topo maps if you have them. That way we can all play arm chair quarterback and spend all of your money.

I like the idea of several ponds rather than one. That way you can have a variety of fishing experiences all without leaving your property.

I find the look of dead standing trees in a pond quite aesthetically pleasing. A pond needs structure, and leaving trees standing can do that. My dad's 2 acre, 10 ft deep Iowa pond still has dead oaks standing that were flooded in 1978. The dead trees are also more fun to fish around IMHO.

I think the major concern with leaving trees is that you are not able to compact the dirt where the tree trunk is which could lead to a leak. A pond with 100 gal/min flow should be able to withstand a few leaks.

The other concern is tress falling, but the likelihood of being under one when it happens is pretty small. Just don't build something near where one of the dead trees will fall.

BiloxiBlue, sounds like you have found a neat property... Post some photos and topos when you get a chance. We'd love to as JHAP said, armchair quarterback and spend your money!

Can't wait to see how your project progresses over the next few years...

Welcme to the forum
You are at the right place.

How long until you get home?

I also like the looks of standing timber in lakes and ponds. The more natrual the better. Nothing better than running a spinnerbait or flipping a jig right up against a tree trunk and having a big 0le bass dang near break your arm.