Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Old Pond Drainage and Renovation

Well hello folks. Just have a few questions about an old farm pond I have on my property. The pond has been around for about 30+ years, and sits at about 100' in diameter. I have been trying to bring the level up in order to increase my size but find that I am constantly running a pump out of a nearby creek. To the north of the pond I have creek that sits about 15' wide; and to the east a field drainage ditch that fluctuates.
When the pond is low it will stay consistent because it is the height of the creek. What I would like to do is raise the pond so that it sits above the level of the creek.
Around the pond is a grassy mound that encircles the pond, was originally going to be the walls of the pond but couldn't get the water level up and if it did come up water would leak through wall and puddle up in a higher traffic area.
The pond is an excavated pond with no dams or springs feeding it, so it will be a self contained pond. Any ideas on a water barrier? I am currently draining the pond so that I can dig it out and possibly line the bottom and walls with a good foot of clay. The purpose of the pond will primarily be for fishing and an occasional swim.
I know pics would be nice, and I will try to get some. But for now any ideas or incite would be appreciated.

Welcome to the forum Chris!

You'll find great help here. It sounds like you are on the right track. From what I have read (I'm not even a novice in the pond arts (yet))a pond of your type will be a clay bowl up to the level you desire. That leaves you with the task of successfully building the "bowl". My advice has to stop here as there can be a lot of details to constructing a water tight clay bottom and sides. Those in the know will be by soon to add to your thread I'm sure.

It sounds like you currently have a ground water pond. If you have no appreciable water shed, it will be likely that you will have to pump water to it from the creek (or well) even if your clay bowl keeps it from leaking out. Evaporation and plants can lower water levels over the course of time and supplemental water will be needed. That's probably not too big of a deal for you as it sounds like you have the equipment, the time for the hobby, and the pond is pretty small and it would not take much time to "top it off" on occasion.

Excavated ponds typically aren't properly compacted from the bottom up. That's what you want to do. Line the pond from the bottom, go higher than the water line you expect, with clay. Compact the clay, then fill with creek water and you'll be good. That's the best barrier you can get. If you don't have good clay, look through our resource guide at your different options.