Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam daming a flowing creek to make small pond

We are in the proccess of shaping banks around the creek, we are planning on daming the flowing creek once the pond is shaped. It will be about .25 - .35 acres big and 5 foot deep on average. The dam will only be around 35 feet long and as thick as we want to make it.The problem we will face is how to make the dam over flowing water. Has anyone faced a situation like this? There is no way to reroute the water. The water flow is about the equivilant of around 4 running water hoses. Some solutions we are considering include making a temporary dam...while making the real dam or using a liner for the dam. does anyone have any suggestions or experiences with anything like this? we own a tracked Bobcat loader and a backhoe.

nevermind i found my answer on another post. i guess i'll have to make a pump pit or a temporary damn. hmmm

what are the draw backs to a liner?

where I am from its against the law to damn a crick. you may want to check on that

Once you install your pump out pit you can install a gate valve and channel water around creek the creek bed where you install damm should have a cross seal trench to prevent water from runnig under damm. Rember a creek bed can run 4 feet below surface. Once you hit dry dirt pack clay in a cross ussally triple the width and same on the lateral
Good Luck
Scott

My pond sounds alot like yours. We had a creek and gully where I wanted the pond. I do not like creek water running into my pond because of silt, and other unwanted stuff. I spent $4500.oo running a 24" pipe around the pond site. At the beginning of the pond I built a large concrete headwall to divert the creek water around the pond during high water and open a valve to an 8" pipe that I can open into the pond if I want to add water. My pond is about 1 1/2 acres and I love the part of keeping the silty water out of my pond but being able to add water during a trickle flow. I would think twice about heavy rains flowing into my pond uncontrolled.

VAPond2003,
If done correctly the only drawback to a liner is the cost. It becomes cost prohibitive as the pond gets bigger.

Another liner drawback. A friend had his liner punctured by his dog's toenails as the dog was climbing out of the pond. Bad Dog! Thin liner?.