Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Digging deeper, what equipment should I use?

I am wanting to dig deeper the section I have outlined. I was planning to rent a small dozer like a JD550 or maybe a 21000lb excavator. What would you recommend? It has been dry fro while but I am sure I will hit moist clay a few feet down.

The area is about 150x75feet

A trackhoe would work better if you think you are going to wet clay a few feet down. And if you are renting, a trackhoe would allow you to dig out as much as you can with the limited rental time.

Would I have any problems getting the bucket stuck in the clay or getting the clay stuck in the bucket?

Maybe both. Depends on the clay and the operator.

We have always had good luck with track hoes in the 36,000 to 44,000lb range with a 1 to 1 1/2 yards bucket. We always ask for a long wide undercarriage. These have a better ground pressure. (lower ground pressure) Working on the steeping area be careful. We have owned many track hoes and deal in heavy equipment and they will turn over on a slope such as a dam if you get in some really wet stuff on one side of the slope and are not a trained operator.

We had a local dealer rent a track hoe to a local farmer here and the farmer turned the trackhoe over backwards while digging out his existing pond. The dam was steep. Track hoe started down on the water side ,bucket was full of mud and the farmer paniced and over it went backwards. Totaled the machine with mud and water. Cost the renter a lot of money in addition to the insurance from what I was told. Thank goodness he was not killed when he crushed the cab.

Machinery and horses can kill you and never shed a tear.

I told a couple of young lads that yesterday when they ran over my two axle four wheeler trailer with my farm tractor. Machines do not have a brain. A young fellow I was helping in Texas with some consulting work about two months ago turned a 100,000 lb machine over on him while working on a steep slope. I was sorry to hear that he was in a big hurry to get the dirt piled up and did not take the time to put the ROPS on the machine . He was crushed to death inside the metal cab. Machines do not look out for you. richey

Trackhoes can do a lot and are actually a lot of fun to operate once you get the hang of it. That slope doesn't look particularly steep; but keep in mind they can definitely slide down a slick bank real fast. Dig it out like you would paint it. By that I mean, plan it out so that you don't dig yourself into a corner. Most important of all, it appears there are some power lines in the picture. I hit some lines with my trackhoe once hard enough to sway them like crazy. It was probably only good fortune that I wasn't fried. Watch out for power lines. I don't know about the ground there or how deep you plan to dig; but one concern I have here is digging deep enough that I get into a spring or water vein that could take water out of my pond. Finally, the speed at which a really good operator and a new operator can do a job and the quality of the job are worlds apart. You may be financially ahead to hire someone with a trackhoe to do it or to rent a trackhoe and hire an experienced operator to run it if you aren't experienced.

As long you do not dig straight down in one area, you should be fine. Try to keep where the trackhoe is operating flat and you should have no issues with rollover.

yep common sense and good advise from these experienced guys and you should have no trouble with your excavating. They are right sometimes an experienced operator can save you a lot of money and time. Especially if you wind up having to move the same dirt two or three times by piling it in the wrong place. Remember I was told one time the only dumb question is the one you dont ask? Keep asking.

IMO I'd use an excavator to dig it and a loader or dozer to spread and grade it.