Bob,

With a small dozer and/or backhoe the root systems are easily removed of all but the largest, oldest trees and the soil repacked to restore the integrity of the dam. A pond builder in these parts swears that his biggest pond problems by far are leaks in dams caused by trees. That's partially because of our preponderance of pine trees in East Texas which keep their "leaves" year round and really sway and move in the winds. I love trees....especially large ones...but the only way I would leave a tree in the dam is if it was a "specimen" tree with unique characteristics.