Queenkat,
I plan to get a full trash pump which will handle the solids better. I will then either pump it into dewatering bags or build up hay bales to capture the solids. It will be pumped uphill from the pond and the water will flow back to the pond with the solids being captured. You will not be able to only pump out muck, a large percentage will be water or it won't flow through the hose.
Within a couple weeks I will be putting a boat in my pond and finding out how much muck I do have. That will give me a good idea how I will get it out. Due to the springs that flow in I don�t see draining the pond and using heavy equipment as an option. But if the muck averages 36� thick in my two acre pond that will be 12� thick spread over the 6 acre pasture adjacent to the pond. I may have to rethink my plan.
