After meeting the excavator over 3 weeks ago and calling him 2 times to follow up and again today he shot me an off the top of his head quote for $3,500...thats to dig out 750 cubic yards or push it out. According to him the bottom is sand not clay and there are springs down there.
I am not very confident dealing with this guy and being 230 miles away doesnt help.
At this stage I am tempted to do my deepening project myself. Rent a pump, pump out about 4 feet of water then get a bobcat and have at it.
Seems like it might be fun.
On the other hand I have no experiance with this type of work and wonder about timing and weather. This is Wisconsin and its now December and ice is probably already an inch thick. Wouldnt seem I could get to it until early spring...if there is one...late march or April but that could be real sloppy.

Just thinking out loud.