Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Dock and Overflow questions.

I've got a 1/4 acre pond that's maybe 12' "deep" but the bottom of the culvert pipe where it will overflow is like 18"-20" below the 12', so I've been questioning what I could do to get a bit more out of it while it's only 5' deep. Looking around here and researching I found a few people using what I think is called a weir overflow? I think that's the type that's supposed to be adjustable? I've never done any concrete forming like I'd imagine I'd have to do for this, basically making a concrete box in the end of the culvert with a cutout on the pond side to the height I want to pond to fill to. And I was imaging putting some galvanized walkway grating on top of it.

And the dock, I was thinking floating in the beginning, but the floats are expensive. Right now thinking a fixed 6'x16', and have been questioning how to make the posts, the pond is dug in clay, I just dug a 20" hole maybe a foot from the water and no water is going in so I need to get this done as soon as possible as the last rain raised the water level about a foot. I was thinking I'd auger and put in some 8" sonotubes, get some of those 4x4 concrete post anchors, but am questioning how long the hardware would last in the water. I see others using telephone poles straight into the dirt, or straight into the concrete in sonotubes.

This is what i made.

This is actually the one I came across here on the forum, looks good. I've just got a 12" pipe though on mine and it's already in place so would have to somehow build around it and on this wall that's almost 45 degrees. The wood that goes in the slots have to have the edges cut to a 45 degree point on one end and the other to receive the next from what I'm reading? Guessing it has to hold water pretty good for this to be a method used huh. I'd just hate to make it a different way, like a solid concrete box with just a notch out for the water, instead of this way and then have a bad rain that goes over the walls everywhere instead of out the culvert.

I'm still trying to think of how to do the legs on the dock, concrete with rebar crisscrossed to put into concrete? And the reason I'm still thinking concrete is to get the wood above the organic matter that might start to pile up or something. But I don't know, never done this. I was sure I was going to do the typical post brackets for like a porch till I thought of how long it'd last in water.

What is your current pipe made of? You may be able to add a riser but it would need to be 24" and connect securely to your current pipe.

Do you have a pic of your system?

Yeah, here's the wall and pipe. Pipe sticking out is like 4 feet long

Look at a flashboard riser system. It could be adapted to your situation.

Here's a similar set-up. One opening is in the pond, the other opening is attached to the pipe exiting the pond.

Agri Drain

Thanks for the link, you saved my day

Just a comment on docks. I used telephone poles, drilled holes ~4 ft into the bottom and threw in 2-3 bags of concrete. Some of the holes filled with water somewhat as I was working but this seemed to work OK with dry concrete.
I have included a picture of the poles, the dock and the dock in 6" of ice. For cross members I used 2x10's and 2x8's set in the notched posts and held with 5/8" bolts with square washer.

The pond was rising so I had to hang risers off the poles to stay above the water as I worked.

I now aerate at the dock to reduce the stress from ice so can't say how this would do in this year's 12" ice.

Don't know if this is any use. Good luck.