We're getting that good soaking rain right now with some heavy showers mixed in. This will give plenty of water for all this dry ground to soak up. I hope we get 2 inches or more, enough to help the pump raise the lake since I have so little watershed area. We were so dry here our whole state was under a burn ban (brush piles, etc.) until November 5. Either way, this rain helps and the ban should be lifted by Friday.
Yes, we packed it with the track hoe bucket. The only other option was to dig the whole thing 8 feet wide and bring in a small packer that an operator could drive in the ditch, packing as it was being filled. I thought that was dangerous, having a machine and driver off in a 15 foot ditch and all that commotion might make the ditch cave in. So we packed it back all the way, but went a lot wider in the sandy area, and then plated over the top with about 2 feet of clay. It might continue to seep, but I doubt seriously it will be in that area. The contractor and I both closely supervised the digging and packing the core and we dug out a lot of sand and put back a lot of good clay, so it shouldn't seep.
Looking at those pictures as I was re-sizing them for the internet, I can tell the water has already come up a lot. I'm hoping this rain will put it up to the shelf and I will know soon how well it's holding.
Thanks again and will keep you posted. I assume you didn't have any trouble getting to the pictures.
