Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions found clay...what next

So I found clay that can be delivered to my pond. What next? I have read about packing it in 6" layers with sheepfoot roller which will be done. Is it better to have the clay real dry or should I do it on a wet day? Is one way better than another? Anything else I should know before I go forward with the clay lining?

You want to have the clay wet enough so that it will make a ball and when it's thrown against the door of a pickup truck it sticks rather than break apart.

Correct Mr. Mike Otto?

It needs to be somewhere in the middle. If it is to dry or to wet it won't compact.

Unless you are in a long drought the clay should have enough moisture in it already to compact properly. Last year I had clay dug out of one pond to build the dam of another. Even though I hadn't had much rain the previous two months the clay still had plenty of moisture.

Chris, you type too slow.

Ok thanks. The company said they could have it all delivered in one day, Getting around 160 yards of clay. Should have it moved around within a day or two of that. The clay is being escavated as we speak so should have plenty of mositure in it due to recent rains.

What size is the pond going to be? What are you doing with the dirt that is being removed for the pond? Tell us a little about the dam, and other plans, if you don't mind...

I posted a few pics and some info in the selecting a site forum. where to get clay thread. POnd is 65x75. Hole is dug and the dirt has been moved. Started out last year as a real small pond to attract waterfowl. Then liked the pond idea and wanted to take on a project and build a bigger nice looking pond, that actually holds water. We have another pond on the proiperty also. It's small but has some fish in it.