No they don't freeze they actually put out a greater flow.

The topo is relatively simple but I don't know how to scan and unload.

Topo flat 300'x300' house site w/slight grade towards the uniform slope 1:3 (I had to make a switch-back trail for my tractor). This levels out and becomes a nice wetland which we cross with my rasied and connect pallets to access the rest ofthe harwood uphill stand.

The water runs in two places. E to W on our house site then underground (eventually shale). A second spring emerges about half way down the hill and then again goes underground.

My small pond (originally to be a vernal pond)site (40' radius)is set at the end of the fall of the hill and is "in-line" with the two springs and is about 200' slightly uphill from the wetland. I would build my spillway in that direction.

Now, I believe that I can sustain a pond if I can get H20 from the springs (before they go underground) by trenching and installing pipe. To add to the flow there is a sizable watershed that runs downhill in various spots from my and my neighbors lots using laterals I could probaly pick up a lot of this runoff and connect to main trunk. What I need is help on the details:

1) (I once was a surveyor and learned quickly to lay pipe upslope to keep your work site dry). Sould my main trunk be perforfated to pick up addn'l flow between the last spring and pond? Type, size of pipe? Should it be lined with plastic in the trench below the pipe, should I use filter fabric over top before I back fill the trench?

2) Most important, what do I do when I "meet" the spring with my trenching? Do I go deeper to gain more water? Do I create a small detention area at the spring site with sand filter rocks, etc. before I place my last pipe?

3) How should I build my diagonal laterals (one on each side) to catch runoff? (same questions as above).

This is probably small [potatos) compared with most of your ponds but the kids will enjoy it and it should add to our land value. Again, it will be shaded in a hardwood forest and I plan on using indigenous rocks and ferns to make it look as natual as possible, Pea stone or sand for the bottom? Depth? I want to discourage any underwater growth and I don't want stagnancy.

I probably don't have to tell you that we are on a shoestring budget (like alot of folks) and I want to do this myself (with my friend's Kubota).

Thanks again.

- Steve

Steve Schassler