I am about to have a contractor price a new pond build for me and need advice on the design shown. Here are some of the design parameters:
3.7 acres at full elevation Pond will be in NE Georgia in the Piedmont region 70 acres drains to the pond area. All area draining to it is mature wooded area Pond usage will be LMB fishing and any supporting species to that end so would like advice on how much to stock as well I will be putting in a variety of structure in the pond before it fills
Any questions or comments on the pond are appreciated
I can't read any of the details as rendered on my computer (and eyeballs). Looks like a beauty, though!
Do you have enough clay on site for the core trench of the dam?
Any rocks or big sand layers in the sub-grade? You can easily build to the design, if all of the material behave. If you have a chance of material that might not behave, then be flexible on changing the plans as needed.
Will part of the excavation be below the groundwater table? Contractor prepared to continually drain the site knowing that ahead of time will make things go much more smoothly.
The NRCS was not involved, however I took all of the design guidelines from resources available on this site.
We have plenty of clay on site. In our region, it is almost all red Georgia clay.
The only rocks we have to worry about is hitting a granite vein. We are in a hotbed for granite, but most of it is in the higher elevations. I did not hit any in the 3' cores that i took. There is no sand in our area.
We will be above the groundwater table. The ditch feeding only flows when it rains and groundwater seepage areas are higher on the hill and below the dam.
Sounds like it should be an easy build and you should have a terrific pond in the near future!
Just need a contractor that is a "pond builder" instead of a "dirt mover". One good test is to ask him how he will install the core trench. He should say to build it in 6" lifts, with clay wetted to the proper amount, and compacted until the compaction equipment walks out of the lift.
The only other thing I can think of, is how big was your heaviest rainfall event when the remnants of a hurricane swept up onto the piedmont? Make sure your emergency spillway can handle at least that much rainfall to save your dam from being breached.
Come on back to the forum when the pond is near completion and start a new thread about the fishery goals for your pond. There are lots of experts to help you at that stage, and they definitely have fun talking about a new pond management project.
Only thing I would think about adding is some type of point coming out from the southside, rip-rapped. Also, get your rock piles/concrete piles in when dry. If you waterfowl hunt plan for blind set-up with wind direction and Rising Sun behind you. Otherwise looks great!
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