I've built 4 new ponds and refurbished 3 now with my own time and equipment.
All have worked out well to date except for the one of my daughters. It actually was part refurbish and part new, about half and half, but I consider it one of my refurbished. I think it leaks down about 12-18 inches from full pool. I cleared off a dead 30" diameter elm tree off the dam and my best guess is the leak is from that area. It also has a very limited watershed, so it spends quite a bit of time below full pool. It is the only one I have done that am not completely satisfied with.
The last one acre pond was just built last fall and has not filled all the way so the jury is still out on it.
My main pond is 3 acres. Some links below to some of my threads if you are interested. Some have construction pictures.
pond dedicated to raising RES - my latest construction my forage pond construction sediment pond construction main 3 acre pond - not much construction details though Main pond was built pre-PBF for me so construction was pretty well complete by the time I started posting. As I recall there are some pictures of my old pond refurbishment thouh.
refurbishing son's old pond I took a bunch of pictures of my daughters pond construction, but never made a thread or posted them.
Maybe some of that will give you inspiration. I'm kind of a do it yourself kind of guy also.
