Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction Hello from Gallipolis OH

I've been reading posts for awhile and just joined yesterday. This is a great site.
I've got a 2 acre pond on my 50 acre property that was constructed 2 years ago. The pond sprung a leak (there is shale rock in some of the surface) about 90 days after we built it. The guy that built it has offered to drain it and put more red clay over the shale...for a price of course. I've lost about 3 or 4 feet depth this year but the pond is about 25 feet deep to begin with. I would appreciate some advice on the leak. I really hate the thoughts of draining this pond and all it would include (loss of the fish I've stocked, $ of paying the guy to do it, smell of the drained pond etc.)I know it's the only way to fix it. Also the leak is not in the dam so there are no structual safety concerns.
Any thoughts?
Randy

Hello, I am new to this as well, so I am not much help, but just wondering how you know where the leak is? Can you see it leaking? Was it a sudden thing?

It's leaking past the dam and off to the left. My property slopes and you can see it coming out down below.It's too wet and soft to mow so it has become its own wetland down there.
Draining and more clay or a heck of a truckload of bentonite is the answer...Put to tell you thr truth I've already spent 30k on what I have and given this economy I have reservation about spending more right now.
Since it topped off at the spill way just this spring and I've only lost 4 feet in depth with 25 more feet left (this is a deep hole) I'm just going to watch the level for a while. This fall looks to be a dry one so it should be a good test. I have a decent watershed in wet weather so it should fill back up.Everytime it drops another foot I take my tractor and drive around the perimeter packing down the soil...it just makes me feel better to be doing something. I wonder if spreading some benonite in the tracks would help?

I hope these guys can help you out..All I can do is Welcome you from a fellow southeastern Ohioan.You are on the right Website...Joe

Go ahead and do the right thing.

BTW, I've had the same type of problem(leak) for quite a few years. Mine was caused by not coring the dam when it was built. Now, I have an established fishery with large bluegills, catfish and bass. Man, I wish I had enough character years ago to do it then.