Our 1/4 acre pond loses several feet of water depth each winter when there is no irrigation water inflow. We normally have a long hot dry period of a few months in late winter and spring. The pond bottom muck dries sufficiently that I've been able to enter the pond with my compact tractor and "harvest" muck for our gardens.

I'm very cautious to keep my wits about me and not sink the tractor in the couple feet of muck that has accumulated. I've pulled about 10 cubic yards out over the years. That's not much of course but our gardens thrive.

Only once did I "stick" the machine in the bottom crud. I wished I'd had a winch then! We hooked up my Tundra to the tractor and eased the whole works backwards with multiple sighs of relief.

Muck dries much much faster out in this arid climate I'm certain.