Haus and all:

Has your pond in Kansas ever been full? Here's why I ask: Several times over the years, we have seen new ponds fill up, then lose water. . . fill, lose water again, but with less water loss. The scenario repeats itself until the structure is doing a jolly good job of holding water.

Old-timers say this is common performance. As the soil materials "settle" or become more "seasoned," the clay forms a better bond with other native soil types.

That said, our trusted dirt specialist, Mike Otto, says any earthen dam will leak. Actually, he says, "They ALL do."

If you can live with a half-inch daily water loss � which seems a bit much for this time of year � then sleep well tonight.

If it's bugging you, wait for the dry season, pump out the water and plate the lake basin and the upstream side of your dam with another foot of clay, compacted and watered six inches at a time.

When you finish and refill, you might have solved your leak problem (emphasis on "might") � but you will definitely have lost your fish.

This may be of little solace, but now you see why I'm high on man-made liners. They're higher than a Georgia pine, but amortized over time, worth the worry-free years of sleep.

Hope this helps,
Mark McDonald
founding editor/co-owner
Pond Boss