The way our best pond builder builds dug ponds in NW Ohio is at the beginning,,,,, the final size of the pond is over excavated by one bull dozer width wide down until they find good clay; usually at a depth of around 6-7ft locally. Top soil is saved,,,,, to at the very end be spread out back around the pond to grow good grass / vegetation. Usually this over excavated depth is the farm field tile depth or tree root depths. Then when the good clay layer is found,,,, then that clay of the deep final pond basin is used for the final top perimeter of pond and brought up to be spread in 6" lifts to fill the outer enlarged boarder of that over excavated bull dozer width. Those spread out 6" lift layers are then spread and compacted by a DOUBLE barrel sheepsfoot roller. Single barrel bull behind sheepsfoot rollers bounce around too much for best action of compaction. This process of the over excavated perimeter creates about a 8ft wide, very well compacted deep top clay liner layer consisting of very good well compacted clay around the entire top perimeter of the pond. The excavated deep clay basin is also well compacted with the sheepsfoot roller. These builders brag "they do not build leakers".
Last edited by Bill Cody; 03/27/26 09:49 AM.
