Well, in a few more weeks, the Land Improvement Contractors (Dirt Workers -- for me and mine) expect to start clearing the back 10 acres for the hay pasture and Pecan Tree Orchard, then they will start on the .3 acre (maybe .5 acre) and .5 acre ponds. The ponds will be mostly excavations, which makes me happy, because I want to build up the whole front of the property for the house and barn, along with increasing the size of the water shed for the ponds.
My soon-to-be formally significant other has informed me that she and the children we don't have yet need more 4' swimming area, than the 4', 6', and 8' depths I was planning for both ponds. At least, I don't have to put my foot down on an expensive and high maintenance money pit of a swimming pool.
For the .5 acre Catfish pond, I'll go with a 3:1 slope to 8', everywhere. No spawning depths needed and I could increase the size of the pond, with 4' and 6' depths, later, if I wish. Both ponds will have 3:1 slopes.
For the HSB, CNBG, and RE .3 acre (maybe .5 acre) pond, behind the house, I'll go with half at 4' and half at 8' depths. I plan to cover the whole 4' area with pea gravel.
For this, I got the compromise of no swimming, until the water reaches 80F in the Spring. I'm still worried about disrupting the CNBG spawns, but compromise is what marriage is.
Hey, at least she is enthusiastic about moving out of Houston and into the sticks. Well, it's the new house and all the decorating potential that probably really got her interest. We'll see what happens, when I have to get ornery about more than a weekly trip to the grocery store or other shopping.
Stay tuned for pix updates to this thread, as construction starts and progresses...
