I’m finally getting back into my pond project after spending the last 3 weeks getting it drained with a 2” semi trash pump. I could have waited a few weeks and it would have leaked out by itself but I’m anxious to get it sealed before the spring rains. I’ve heard from different neighbors the pond used to hold water with 5+ lb bass some years ago. I’m not sure why it started leaking but after using a 4 ft probe all around in 4-6 inches of muck I found a 5ft diameter muck hole where the probe will sink almost to the handle before hitting solid ground. I suppose I will rent a backhoe to get all the muck out and fill with a clay mix ,and compact . Could it be the top of a water table or something? When the pond is full from the rains it will lose 4 to 6 inches a week it seems ,and my neighbors yard down the hill and across the road is a swamp until my pond leaks down a few feet. I have 2000 lbs of bentonite on hand and plan on putting about 5 pounds per square foot in the area around this hole . Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I plan on mixing or blanketing bentonite on the entire pond bottom eventually but hoping this is the only spot it’s leaking and solves the problem.

Thanks,
Marty