Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Turn one acre to 2 acre pond

I've got a one acre pond that i want to build large into about 2 acres on some land by San Saba, Texas. I met with someone out there last week and he said it'd cost about $25k-$30k to dig out another 1 acre about 15 feet deep next to the current pond. There is no dam to build basically just pushing out what's there. Does this price sound about right?

I've driven a bulldozer before to clear cedars. Would it be that much harder to dig this pond out with a bulldozer? It's got great clay.

Would you be draining the existing pond first, then digging?

No I'm thinking about digging the new "one acre" just up from the existing pond. It's basically the whole drainage area, then the new 1 acre, then the existing 1 acre, then the dam.

I had my 1 acre pond deepened in August to about 15" deep and enlarged to about 1 1/2 acre when full. It's not full yet but getting there. They drained it into a back pond, pushed out the mud and muck and then dammed it back up.Cost me 15K and it was almost 2 weeks worth of work for 2 dozers. I didin't think they were moving it very fast but after talking to some other people, I think the price was about average.
Hope this helps

That helps a ton Cisco. Thanks very much.

I'm thinking I could save some money if I rent a dozer and push a lot of it myself and then have someone come in to put the finishing touches on it making sure the dam is sealed well and the floor is good to go. Is that a bad idea?

This is one of those deals that's a lot of money so I'd like to save as much as possible but I also want to make sure it's all done correctly so there are no issues later on down the road after I've put fish in there.

If you can operate the dozer, I would say to go ahead.

However, I find that a really good dozer guy who knows how to build ponds can get more done in a day than a brush pusher can do in three days. Lots of professional dozer guys can push brush but are pretty useless when building a pond. I've done business with some of them and learned the hard way.

Also, keep an eye on the soil when it is being built. If you hit rocks or sand seams, stop there and cover with a couple of ft. of well compacted clay.