Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam New construction

I was running the bird dogs out at "the farm" yesterday, admiring my watershed and the little white flags that delineate "Lake Susan" (futile attempt at butt kissing). I was really impressed by the distance between flags on proposed dam (Susan calls it Dam Pedro).

Dam is going to be 450' long (4 x 1 back / 3 x 1 front), contractor calculates moving 24,770 cu yds of dirt at $1.60 per cu yd.

Also will install a 36" x 140' overflow tube w/ 48" seep collar for $5000.

I know dirt moving costs vary by geography... Would like input concerning cost

36" overflow pipe? You must have a huge drainage area. How many acres is this "pond" going to cover?

I believe I would call it "Susan Resorvoir".

I would try to get an estimate based on actual equipment cost, overhead, etc. For the price, I would do some due diligence by getting a couple of competing bids and look at examples of everyones work.

Dave,

120 acres of drainage that is primarily brome pasture. Originaly was 6 to 7 acres, contractor thinks now it will be 7 to 8 acres.

I agree with you on the competing bids. I'd really like this gentleman to construct pond, but I'm asking a couple of other folks to quote it.

Gumboot,

WOW! 24,700 cu yds. of fill.

This seems like a lot of earth fill for a 6 acre pond. How tall is this proposed structure? Are you sure you need a 36" tube for 120 acres of pasture drainage? You may want to contact the local NRCS folks and see if you can get a preliminary design.
3:1 front and back slopes will probably more than sufice. (Again check with your State Regs.)
I've been involved in several dam building projects (my own included) and 12,000 cu. yds. for a farm pond would be considered huge!

Granted my experience is west, and we don't have near the runoff and/or storm events you are likely to have, but I think I would seek another opinion.

good luck,
ED

Gumboot,
At a bid letting 2/4/05 for a watershed between Eskridge and Admire Kansas, the bids on the 35,315 cu. yd. earthfill embankment were $1.30, $1.40, and $1.60 per cu. yd. Other bid items were clearing, pipe, seeding, sand drain, riprap, mulching and some other items. The highest price per cu.yd. bidder ended up with the lowest total bid.
I would use at least the 36" pipe. If I remember right the water level (pipe inlet flow line) should be 2 or 2 1/2 times the pipe size below the spillway (72" or 90") for the pipe to run full.
I like the 4 to 1 back slope. Takes more dirt but makes for a gentler dam that can be mowed.
My opinion of your bid is that if the contractor is reputable and the price per yard includes; coring the dam, compaction, saving back topsoil and topsoiling all disturbed areas above the water line, and he can get started on it soon enough to suit you, it's a good bid.
Those other items can add up.
I would recomend 2 or 3 60" anti-seeps. z

Good post zhkent and welcome abord!

Thank ya'll for the replies. This contractor is reputable and I've seen two of his recent projects, very nice. He told me from the begining that he wouldn't be the cheapest, but he feels he spends more time and effort coring the dam than most.

Regardless, I have another contractor bidding it this weekend.

Thanks for the heads up on the 2 seep collars. I'll keep all posted as we progress. And I'm sure I'll have more questions.