Paul, our pond is just over one surface acre, but we go down to about 14 feet in a good part of the pond. We pushed for the month of August using 2 D-7's and one stout John Deere tractor. What fun. $85 an hour is pretty standard.

I agree that you are probably going to have to start out fresh. If you buy land with existing water, you will pay for it as well - pay now or pay later, but get it the way you want it if you do it yourself. I'd keep NCRS out of the mix - they seem to only want to do square ponds in our neighborhood, and you don't have to have their involvement for credit with Wildlife Management(our tax assesment office agent was really pushing that they had to be involved until they were put in charge of a pond on his dad's place - his tune has changed significantly now).

Robert Alexander was the guy that helped us (979-884-0444). He is a craftsman of the highest order and one of the hardest working humans I have ever met. He has two dozers and calls in a friend that has two big dozers for the serious work. They all know their stuff and know the local dirt. Robert also really likes trees and won't push one over if it can be helped. Tell him that I sent you.

10 acres is a lot of water and alot of pushing, unless you have a gully, gulch, or other significant land mass that avoids a lot of dirt moving. We had to make a hole with no significant aforementioned land mass, thus, a month of pushing and only one acre.

The Texas Parks&Wildlife Biologist for Lee County is Greg Pleasant 979-773-9043. He can get you the name of the guy in your county. They will come out and rub the leaves in their fingers and give you a good idea of what the land can support and how in could be improved in the future to support of wildlife. Good for them, good for you, and good for the wildlife.

Best,
Shannon.