Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction New member seeking input on pond construction

Welcome to the forum!

I talk to over 1000 folks annually about pond construction, rehab, and leak abatement and this is great advice here - sheepsfoot is mandatory or you'll likely be calling me in a season or two meanwhile the contractor is loooong gone. Dictate the pond build process, you're the customer, and the General Contractor.

Think long and hard about the beach - sounds like a blast [it did to me, also, many years ago], but if your kiddos are anything like mine they'll prefer jumping off the floating dock into deeper, cooler water free of vegetation and the well planned beach will become a hassle to manage for macrophytes/silt/muck, and ultimately, may become ignored. I'd spend that effort on a water trampoline and/or a zipline. Up to you, just my experience.

Regarding erosion - I use a linear polymer designed as a tackifier and I'll donate enough to cover your project. Way less time, effort, and better control than using silt fences, etc. It will hold your soils in place until your vegetation emerges. Just share the resulting science with our community following the project and we'll be square.

The guys above nailed it - I have nothing more to add. The more time you spend on parent material preparation and compaction the less chance you'll have to spend down the road on leak abatement, rehab, etc. Feel free to reach out anytime to discuss your project - can cover a lot more ground on a call - my time is always free to the PB family. Also, strongly consider hiring Scott at Hoosier Pond Pros [Esshup] for pond/fishery management, site selection, stocking, etc. He's one of the best, and one of our own.

TJ