Here is a quote from esshup in 2012. Not sure if this helps or not but found it and thought I would share. Course this is him talking about a new pond so it may not relate?
Will it harden? Probably not. Will it hurt the pond? Not really, it'll just make it a bit shallower. That's why I dug my pond deeper than I wanted it, to plan for the future and it silting in. I'm glad that I did, I had 3' of dirt wash in when Hurricane Ike rolled thru the area not 3 weeks after I finished my pond. My 22' deep pond is now 18' - 19' deep.
It's important to have erosion control measures in place as soon as the soil work (i.e. digging) is completed.
If your soft soupy mess is mostly organics, with bottom aeration they will break down and be reduced in thickness over time. It's natures way to try and fill in all holes in the ground, be it a pond or a lake.
_________________________
www.hoosierpondpros.com http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=43/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
