This is an idea I've had bouncing around in my head for many years from my days of gold prospecting.

I have envisioned using a 4" or larger suction dredge, the same ones used to mine rivers. The outlet from the dredge would still go to a sluice to remove heavy metal objects such as fishing weights but the flow from the bottom of the sluice would go into two large, very large, containers mounted on a dump bed trailer.

The flow from the sluice would go into the first container and the overflow from that container would go to the second one. the overflow from the second container would go back into the pond.

The purpose of the two large containers would be to settle out the dirt/mud/muck. With them mounted on dump bed trailers, they could be dumped away from the pond.

Yeah, it would be unwieldy for sure and possibly pretty complex to set up. Heck, may have to make it onto a pontoon platform where the trailers could be towed off for dumping and then put back onto the boat to continue the dredging operation.

Also, it might be totally out of the question for any pond larger than 1/4 acre.

But, I can see advantages too such as being able to do some bottom sculpting.

Of course, if keeping the water in the pond is not an issue, the containers to settle out the muck would not be needed and the entire flow from the dredge could simply be routed outside the pond.

Anyone ever try it out?