Ok, guys, here is my story. I didn't want to split it in parts like "How did I make the dam", "What kind of fish are there", so I made one story. Enjoy.
Part I
My first adventure connected to ponds started ~15 years ago. A relative of mine had a land property and made first pond on it by simple digging by excavator. After that 2 other ponds were made in the same way.
They weren�t large and they weren�t deep enough too. Our winters can be very cold and long (last winter ice was ~0,5-0,6 m (~2 feet) thick on some lakes). Without proper aeration fish usually can�t survive in a pond with max. depth ~2m (7 feet). Probably the crucian carp is the only one that can tolerate water with such low oxygen level...
Some years ago we decided to make a bit more serious pond in a valley. It�s a pity that I don�t have any pictures from the first works � how did we cut trees, how top soil was removed and how the dam was created by bulldozer.
After these great earth works we let it
rest for a year. Dam would get greater density and plants would appear. Stocking fish in a brand new pond isn�t a very smart idea. Probably they would starve or even die because of lack of food.
So, area of the new pond is planned to be 1 hectare or a bit more (that�s about 2,5+ acres). It will be made of 2 similar area parts � the deep one (max. depth could be even 5 m; 16-17 feet) and the shallow one (max. depth could be ~3 m; 10 feet).
Now the deepest part is partly filled with water. We can�t raise the water level higher because there is additional work to be done. Some trees have to be cut and dam isn�t finished yet. It�s expected that year 2012 winter fish won�t need aerator any more
I don�t give much about large ponds without proper water level control system. Usual spillway works only if there is too much water. But if there are unwanted fish and you don�t see any way how to get rid of them? So, we decided to make such system as in further pictures (well, it�s hard to describe it in details because my English isn�t that good). Watch them and if you got any questions, feel free to ask. I�ll try to explain.
[Sorry about picture quality � some of them are taken by a bit damaged camera].
Just a view to a dry pond (that little water amount doesn�t count). Picture taken from the dam. As you see, some birch-trees and bushes have to be cut. On the left side you see a place where dam has to be improved.
Pipe for spillway.
The same but this time concrete base is done.
Steel reinforcement is supported by 3 wooden planks.
The same but from another viewpoint.
Conreting works are continued.
After a rain. Water level can�t raise higher because it reaches pipe and flows away.
