What would you do ? Test holes on the best pond site on my property produces 50-50 results at 9ft. The soil will ball up nicely, but there are inconsistencies between the clay and sand levels, the color is light tan. The dozer operator reporting the results has 40 years experience, builds a lot of ponds and knows his stuff.

This site would be approx. 60-70% excavated, large watershed so the freeboard space would be above average.

If built properly, would I be at a higher rate for the dam failing, or a leaky bottom...or both? Would adding betonite before hand help if I go forward on the location?

Email Otto.

Will do, hope all is well ! You could have linked me to his e-mail, lol. What is it, OTTO@DIRT.COM? Off searching again Thanks for the idea buddy.

Otto is the guy to see.

I think if you have enough good clay available within moving distance, you can have a good pond. But the cost will be higher than if the entire basin was good material.

Theo, from my phone report 2 1/2 hours away (I'm stuck at work in dallas and there's no way of getting away until saturday) it's thin layers without a pattern so far. I just wonder if I should "chance it" and come back later with clay if it fails, or is it's more of a risk with losing the dam in good watershed with an excavated pond. LOL, don't look for pics, I haven't seen it myself ! I have been waiting a long time for this, but the dozers and work didn't align very well. I will have them in there for 5 days, hopefully I can make it saturday and take some pics. Sometimes life just isn't fair...let the bad stuff go, and make the most of what you have ! I just want to smell the EARTH, it's quite an experience building a fishing pond. (lol, dust bowl for 4 months in texas summers)

I agree - call Otto. I bet it will work.

I have to go 14' to get to the good stuff. First pond builder stopped at 12' and said it was 60/40. Otto showed up and found the gold.

Mikeotto@ottosdirtservice.com

Heck, I don't keep his EMail address. I had to go to the User List.

Been out of town for a few days, boy did things get moving while gone.

A hole that is excavated will not cause much of a problem with washing out, large spillway can take away the chances of any problems.

There are very few perfect places to build a pond. Good clay from top to bottom is unsual. What it sounds like you have is about normal.

A good watershed will help keep it full even if it leaks some.

Unless you know for sure you will need to add betonite do not spend the time or money up front. Lets see what happens after it fills.

Otto

I have learned a huge amount from Otto. He definitely brings his experience and common sense to the table.
Here are some of the things he has taught me.
1) All dirt leaks. (Lusk, you idiot, have you ever seen a permanent puddle?) Can't argue with that logic.
2) 100% clay in a dam is bad. It shrinks and cracks when it's dry and swells up and expands when wet.
3) The "best" dirt to put in a dam is no more than 30% clay content, mixed and "processed" and compacted properly. With 30% clay, processed and rolled with other kinds of dirt, the dam won't swell or shrink.
4) The amount a dam can leak is based on how much water comes in.
5) If you need to coat the bottom of the dam, 100% clay is best. How thick? The deeper the water, the thicker the clay.
6) If you get lots of rain, build a wide, shallow spillway. If you get lots and lots of rain, build a much wider, shallow spillway.
7) Never let the bulldozer run out of fuel.
8) Be sure the dozer is maintained properly EVERY DAY.
9) Plan the pond as big as it can possibly be made in the very beginning. You can make it smaller much easier than you can make it larger, if you plan for it in the beginning.
10) Forget all this stuff and build the dam.

Thanks to everyone for the help and the warm feeling your answers provided. It looks like the "good stuff" didn't really show itself in the 9' test hole, but by looking at these pics, you can see they found it the deeper they went. 60% completed

Excellent.

That dirt looks good to me.

Real nice!

Hard to tell much about he dirt from the picture, but man o man do I like the way the guy on the dozer is carving out the bottom it takes a little more time but the banks he is leaving is just the way the POND BOSS, BOB LUSK likes.

Hope to get more pictures when the job is complete.

Bring them to the Convention

OTTO

the dozer blade scrapes in the bottom pic suggest a pretty good clay content, great looking banks and structure eastland.

Well, being a true Texas "Bubba", I applied everything my father taught me, added some wits, and tested the clay's holding capacity. I picked a nice spot, and emptied a full tank of recycled Keystone light It held really well, formed into a small pool...all is well. I walked around, came back to the same spot a while later, wondered how it was holding, nudged the surrounding area with my shoe...yup, it's clay, and sticking to the top 1/3rd of my shoe, oops...what did I just do? Oh well, I'll walk around some more, it'll wear off!

LOL - a true country boy .

Have not heard from you in a couple of days How is the work coming?
Will you get to see the progress any over the weekend?

Keep us posted.

OTTO

The pond has been completed, I'm heading out there in 4 days, can't wait to see it! I will take new pictures and post them upon my return on the 30th.