Second post, but I have been reading this site for a while. Great resource. Here is my situation:
Bought a piece of property with 2.5-3 acre pond. Old standpipe is rusted at the base, and the pond is dry except for a very small spring that feeds into it. It has a spillway. Neighbors say the pond was in great shape until the pipe rusted out some time in the mid to late 90's.
There are trees on the front and the back of the dam, mostly pines, but some oaks, sweet gums, but these are much smaller.
First, let's deal with the old pipe. My options are plug or remove. Seems like most folks favor digging the old pipe completely out, is that correct and not messing with plugging or lining the old pipe, which is much cheaper, but maybe not in the long run. thoughts?
Second, let's talk about the trees. Very few people say it's OK to leave them and take a risk. One said, just get them off the front of the dam. Another, take them off the front and back. Many of the pines, are older and larger 15-20 years.
Third, I am leaning toward not going back to conventional. I could either simply put pipes at the spillway or use a siphon system.
Pond is about 8 feet deep at the dam.
Thanks for your help.
