Sounds like you need to find a small local dirt mover. A medium dozer and backhoe-loader and roller could do a typical 1.5 to two acre pond in about 10 to 15 working days and under 15k, provided you have good clay, not much overburden, and no extra hauling required. No permitting required here if we don't disturb a permanent stream or wetland. Most local ponds are built in open pastures. If you require permits, that cost is usually a token amount compared to construction.
We have larger contractors around here who I suspect greatly inflate their estimates to make small job customers go away. They only want to do highway and bridge jobs and similar large projects that keep them on the same job site for months.
Why don't you look into permitting requirements and subcontract it out yourself?
