With the exception of breaking the dam with a mini-ex, my pond was mucked out and the dam break repaired with only a track loader. I don't know the model, but it was not that big. The break in the dam was down to the original bottom of the pond and was wide enough to drive the track loader through to take muck to the back side. There is no sign of settling after almost two years where the break was.

I'm not trying to say that it's a good idea, but I must have one of those rare situations where tracks were good enough. It holds water very well. I did worry about cheaping out and not demanding a more thorough compaction method, but I got lucky.

Fish on!,
Noel