Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations New Possibilities

Only if you have great soil will the dozer be enough equipment. If the soil needs compaction to hold water (which is usually the case) then you can use the tractors to pull a pan scraper or possibly a sheepsfoot roller to compact the soils. If the tractors are large enough, you might be able to substitute a pan scraper for the dozer and dig the pond with the pan scraper. Especially if you have to move the dirt any distance. If you run into big rocks, then it's time for more equipment.

The problem with digging a pond is that you really don't know what's under the ground until you get the topsoil removed and actually see what's there.

If you don't get it right the first time, expect to spend right around the same amount of money that you spent digging the pond to fix a leaking pond.

Slopes on the sides no steeper than 3:1. Get as much depth as you can as a "savings account" for a dry spell.

Hitting the NRCS is a great idea.

To seal a pond, plan on making a layer of clay in the bottom a total of 18"-24" thick, and compacting it in 6" lifts. Dry clay won't pack well, neither will clay that has too much water content.

Many guys can move dirt, a few can dig ponds that hold water. When you are getting a good pond builder, you aren't just getting a guy on a piece of equipment, you are paying for the knowledge that he has to properly dig a pond too.