Pond? Singular? As in one?
We intentionally bought 3 separate properties totaling 132 acres. Each had a very small 1/4 acre or smaller stock tank already in place. We expanded all 3 significantly and added 2 new ones. I paid the dirt work contractor just under $40K to do all of the work but that included a 750' white rock driveway so maybe the ponds and wetlands areas cost us $35,000.
We use the ponds for Labrador Retriever training and duck hunting. Each had some fish already present but we've added several hundred 3"-5" channel cats, LMB, crappie and bluegills.
Of course, to maintain the ponds I needed a tractor so I bought a new JD790. To get from pond to pond and transport the wife and dawgs there, needed an ATV so I bought a Kawasaki Mule. Of course I can't have a tractor and an ATV without a trailer so I got a Big Tex 8'X16' car hauler. When you have that much equipment you have to have a power washer and a place to store it, so we added a 36' X 36' x15' high steel barn. A barn's no good without water and power so a water line was run and 110/220V service was added and a welder and compressor soon followed.
It would be dangerous to have a barn with all that equipment and not keep an eye on it so we built a 4,000 sq. ft home. My 2001 F-150 crew Cab 4X4 was just fine but my wife needed new wheels so we added a Chrysler Town & Country because of all the visitors we knew we'd be having after we made the move here.
uhhhh ... what did the ponds end up costing me? What difference does it make? You only retire once so as to enjoy the fruits of your labor for the prior 40 years!
My Grandson's first lagremouth and corresponding big smile makes it all worthwhile!
