Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? A call for NH/ME pond builder

It's time to bring in a pro. The pond is at drought level again and it's time to fix it for good.

I've tried all I can do with back fill and benetonite. Need to open up the ledge hole again and plug the leak with lots of blue clay and what ever else.

I'm looking for an experieneced pond builder/repair guy, with access to blue clay in NH or ME. If anyone can help please PM me.

Scruffy, have you tried contacting your local NRCS agent?

I contacted them before I was going to build the pond. Their pond guy had just retired and they were back logged months. They said they would get back to me, but never did.

I'll give them another try, to see if they have a new person of at least tell me were I can get some clay.

The NRCS is not allowed to make referances on builders, but they maintain a list and often quietly suggest who they would personally feel comfortable hiring. My local NRCS has their own supply of clay that builders buy from and I am sure your office knows where to at least get some at. Another option would be to get a load of bentonite delivered to disc into your soil....If you have to haul clay, a bentonite delivery may be quite competitive.

Well, our NRCS agent got back to me and gave me the name of the guy who retired. He thinks he may be consulting, but no phone number. He couldn't even come up with a pond builder other than the retired guy. Not really full of information.

Absolutly no help with any clay information. "Don't know of any sources, or where to get some". He didn't even know if NH had any clay.(?) I told him, the geo survey maps show blue clay in two areas of the state.

He suggested Benetonite, I said I'd been that route. I told him I think I need something that will compact soild over a ledge. No suggestions from our NRCS agent.

I put out a cry for help on Craigslist, and had one relpy. I'm trying to contact that person. They suggested I back fill with crushed stone than pack with clay. Does that make any sence? I would think the stone would open up even more areas to a possible leak location.

Scruffy I was searching on the internet as came across these guys, have you tried them?
http://www.jfkimball.com/
Here's some more.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=&rlz=...ved=0CCgQtgMwAA

If you need to smooth out a ledge, would reinforced concrete be an option? extend it well beyond the suspect area and backfill/ compact with moist bentonite/dirt combo.

I would think couse rock backfill would have too much potential to shift when exposed to a constantly wet, relatively soft base for support.

I was thinking about using cement in another post. After sometime I decided againist it. It's my understanding, I would have to completely clean the ledge rock to get the cement to adhere. Cleaning the ledge in itself would be an impossible task given the location at the bottom of the pool with water seeping in.

My plans are to open up the ledge area and pump/drain all the water I can from the area. I would then back fill the hole with dried clay and compact it with the excavator bucket, hoping to stay ahead of the water coming in.

I'm having a difficult time finding someone in my area that has clay to sell.