I have a small pond, that was last dredged about 25-30 years ago.
It is approximately 30' x 60' oval, 15 years ago the deepest was about 6' deep.
Small little guy in upstate NY.

Over the past 3 decades silt has increased, algae has bloomed, and water plants have choked it out.
Home to frogs as well as painted and snapping turtles.

I can't afford an excavator, or even the diesel to run one. I have little money available, yet I have free time, and willpower! This is surely a project based upon my aesthetic desires, so I am not in a rush, nor do I need perfection.


My plan:

-Slow and steady, as a hobby. (yes, a sweaty, stinky hobby, but still... I enjoy the reward of sweat on my brow, knowing I made my land improved.). This could be an all summer thing, rolling in to very now and then "goof around".

-Get a used diaphragm pump. I thought about renting, but I like the idea of not being in a rush, doing it only when I was energized. WE don't want work!

-Using dewatering bags, perhaps a combination of reusable and single use.

- running a large plastic sheet to create a trough, reclaiming the pond water into the pond.

-wait a while, then empty bag, and try again. slow and steady.



So, will this work?
What concerns or questions do you have?
I want some feedback.


-Also, has anyone turned a dewatering bag into a berm, along the pond? I have seen large scale operations cover with soil, and seed. Anyone do this?

I got an above ground pool for free on Craig's list. I set it up and used a 3" trash pump from harbor freight. Reduced the fittings to two inch I would get in the pond and dredge the muck to the pool then let the water settle and drain it back to the pond. I have some elevation so I can run a four inch pipe from the bottom of the pool to a pit area for the muck sludge to empty the pool

It's a lot of work but you can stand in the pond on the hottest days of the summer and still not sweat too much.

very crafty!

Area of an ellipse = Major Radius x Minor Radius X Pi = 30x15x3.14 = 1413 Square feet.

Too much math makes my head hurt. But shouldn't we add depth of muck for a cubic foot measurement

Check out what I call a hydro dozer in the archives to see some of the devices I used to dredge with

short answer... any major problems?

I would need to buy this pump in the next days, it is quite a discount, motivated seller.
worth a shot?

yes? no?

Nothing to lose but time and some $$. Give it a shot, make sure rebuild kits are available for the pump first.

The trash pump that I used was not real expensive and worked pretty well. If you can stand up in the pond I took some two inch pvc put an electrical ninety degree bend and a straight piece long enough to get to the bottom then put a tee fitting on it then a short piece out of each side of the tee with a cap on each end then drill a series of holes in the bottom of it to suck up the muck through

+1 on the trash pump.
Those are made for moving particulate.
The Diaphragm pump sounds like trouble.

Rebuild kit? (please help... This going to be my first pump experience!)

I've read the opposite. I was thinking Diaphram pumps are a good choice for mud.
I hope I got this right....


"Often referred to as a “mud hog” or “mud pump,” the diaphragm pump is the one to choose when the water is so thick or dirty that the user cannot detect what may be lurking beneath the surface.

Diaphragm pumps are capable of handling sticks, stones, mud, trash and other debris up to 2 in., or a bit larger than a golf ball. Basically anything that can fit through the opening will be able to go through. Useful in wastewater management applications, it is able to pump muddy water, sludge and other thick liquids that have the ability to flow."

I vote for trash pump (not an expert). I have had one for years that keeps plugging. Just put a coarse screen on the input to keep out big rocks.

Rebuild kit = new diaphragm and any other parts needed to get it back to working condition.