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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 904 Likes: 1
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OP
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 904 Likes: 1 |
Background....I have a 6-7 acre pond, 25+ feet deep at the levee. 8 years old.
I used an 18" culvert (which was what NRCS said was the recommended sizing for my watershed) upon construction and have regretted it ever since. Since construction we've had no less than 5 '100 year' rain events, and I've almost had water running over the top of the levee 3 times. I have a very large 'emergency' overflow that pretty much gets used once or twice a year now.
To make it worse, last year I had a big rock wash off my levee and into the culvert, essentially blocking it 80% or so, about 8 feet down. Nothing I've done so far has been able to get it out.
That's where I stood as of this weekend. I burned off the back side of the levee as I do every other year, then went in and cut/sprayed some of the saplings and brush that grew in - in the middle of that effort I found what is essentially a 50-75 gallon sinkhole about halfway down the levee - right in line with the culvert. I had the guy that built the pond for me come look, and he agrees something's going on there. He's going to come out and dig up that spot and see what he can find.
So with all this, here's my plan as of right now. I'm going to have him remove the 18" culvert and put in a new 24". I figure between the increase in rain events, the rock and now what appears to be some sort of leak, I'm going to take that as an omen.
He's telling me he can take it out and replace it without having to lower the pond level. I had assumed that wasn't the case.
Thoughts?
Dale "When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water." - anonymous
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72
Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72 |
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,596 Likes: 28
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,596 Likes: 28 |
Hey Zep, my shoreline grass is beginning to look like yours in that last picture. How are you maintaining the grass down to the waters edge? Weedeater? Mine is too steep for a riding mower.
Dear Alcohol, We had a deal where you would make me funnier, smarter, and a better dancer... I saw the video... We need to talk.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72
Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
Joined: Jul 2010
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Flame....weedeater on dam water edge. btw...I saved thousands on mowing last year allowing my neighbor to place 6-8 mules on the upper part of my property.
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,596 Likes: 28
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,596 Likes: 28 |
Thanks Zep. I guess I will keep weedeating.
Dear Alcohol, We had a deal where you would make me funnier, smarter, and a better dancer... I saw the video... We need to talk.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 998 Likes: 57
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Joined: Jan 2015
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Mark that looks great! I thought about doing that when my contractor was out but the $$$ scared me off. Any concern about weakening the dam where they dug the trench? FWIW, I rented a backhoe and did a DIY culvert repair at the cabin property. http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=459125#Post459125
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72
Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
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Lance the guy that re-did the dam pipe is the same guy that built the pond. So even-though the pipe was 1 year out of warranty he did the labor for free....I did have to buy the pipe...but since the labor was free it wasn't terribly expensive. He was already doing road work so that helped with him throwing in the dam work.
As far a weakening the dam, he didn't seem very concerned, but we really didn't have any choice in the matter. The junctions on at least two sections of the old pipe were "buckling" so as water would go down the drain the junction buckle had a lip that was allowing water to seep under the pipe which we felt could be a danger over the long term to possible dam blowout.
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,100 Likes: 287
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
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I've never messed with a siphon. Just wondering why we put drains through a dam if a siphon will do it. School me.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315 |
Dale- why wouldn't you install a siphon drain? Have him seal off the old one.
Last edited by fish n chips; 03/01/17 07:49 AM. Reason: sp
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 904 Likes: 1
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OP
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 904 Likes: 1 |
Dale- why wouldn't you install a siphon drain? Have him seal off the old one. I'm with Dave on this one - no real experience with a siphon. What's the pros/cons as compared to a culvert?
Dale "When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water." - anonymous
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315 |
Pro that I see in your case is the pipe is only buried enough to be able to drive over it. You never have to worry about it leaking the entire pond out because it isn't buried deep like the one you have. Or perhaps yours isn't deep? Is it just a culvert across the top surface of the dam?
The other benefit it has is that it takes lower water out of the pond instead of the surface. Usually lower water is of a less desirable quality.
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Joined: Jan 2012
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OP
Joined: Jan 2012
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Update to this string - I'm just shy of 24 months with the new oversized culvert and all is well. Even with all the big rains we've had this year the new 24" culvert is doing the job. Haven't seen it run more than 1/2 full yet. So my advice to anyone in the planning and construction phase of a pond is, use NRCS to calculate your max size needed, then go bigger than that.
Dale "When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water." - anonymous
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