It depends on what you are having done. They stopped up a deep gully on my place and created about a one acre stock tank. Cost was about $5,000
altogether. You also have to consider other factors like the road to it, clearing around it, dirt haul off, etc. Whatever you do, try to get a firm price. Heavy equipment has a road gear and granny gear. If you are paying by the hour, they don't get in much of a hurry. In my area of North Texas, a D-6 operator charges about $60 per hour and a D-5 about $50. However the D-6 will do a whole lot more work. Also remember, not every dozer operator can build dams. Some of them spend a lot of time on construction, brush clearing, oil field, etc. I would check references and go look at their work. Ask the landowner how he feels about the operator. I personally think I would talk to a professional dam and/or lake builder. You might not want to hire them but you would learn what they know and it would help judge others.
