Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions Lining pond with clay this fall

If you have good clay, do the project. Our earthmoving friend Mike Otto advises a minimum of 30% and no more than 60% clay in the soils to prevent cracking. He also says 12 inches compacted works best. If soils are marginal, add bentonite to your soils, test compactability and decide how much of what to mix and process. Your timing is perfect. The next issue tackles this topic. Otto talks about plasticity index of soils, an important factor in compaction. We also have a story of an excavated pond, gravel bed in the bottom, then lined with clay. It's a perfect parallel.