I've been working on this project since before the convention this fall. I figured it was time to get around to posting some pics.
As a refresher, I wanted to build a pond for family recreation. The property is pretty neat, containing a good size spring coming out of a cave.
Here is what the cave and spring initially looked like:
[img]
[/img]
The water from inside the cave actually comes from two directions; this is the main "branch" of the spring inside the cave:
[img].
[/img]
The water from the spring turned the entire potential pond area into something of a swamp. We decided to build a diversion ditch in July to divert the water around the entire pond site. here are pictures of the diversion ditch and mini-dam to accomplish this. You can see the original landscape behind the mini-dam:
[img]
[/img]
We ultimately decided to leave the "mini dam" in place, but provided it with some big boulders found on site and a nice rock cover. This backs the water up into the mouth of the cave a little; it forms a shallow pool (about 3').
[img]
[/img]
Another unusual thing we did was build what essentially amounts to a large retaining wall. This was made from large concrete blocks made from excess concrete at the local plant. These blocks are 6' x 2' x 2'. The idea was to make a place to sit/stand/fish/play witha sharp dropoff. I thought I'd be able to place these with the tractor. It turns out they required the backhoe because of weight. This wall will eventually get a rock top as well.
[img]
[/img]
We also had a large number of limestone rocks/boulders on the site. I moved a number of these in with the tractor for habitat. We also had a number of massive boulders that the dozer moved around. We planted three of these in part of the middle of the pond where they would stick out. One of them is big and flat enough to provide a fishing platform. I also built a shallow (about 2 feet) gravelled strip to access these rocks by wading. Sorry, can't find great photos of these. In the first photo you can also see part of the fairly large "mound" that we built in the deep end of the pond. This comes up to approximately 2' of the surface and drops off to over 8' all the way around it.
[img][/img]
[img]
[/img]
The finished product was about 1.3-1.5 acres. It took approximately 60 hours to fill up when we rediverted the spring. Here are some pictures of finished pond.
[img]
[/img]
[img]
[/img]
[img]
[/img]
We've put 100 lbs of trout in it 6-10"; we're going to see if they can make it through our summers. If not, the plan will be to try HSB in a put-and-take mostly for our boys (8 and 11). We realize we have no meaningful forage base and feed with an automatic feeder.
