We've got a qualified contractor with many ponds under his belt coming in Monday to remove our bridge and install a dam and 36" pipe. He'll be raising the road up 10ft. from where the bridge is now.This will put the water level right where the top of the bridge is. I've posted pictures on the rural section of Tractorbynet.com and will be updating the thread until the construction is complete. Here's a link if your interested http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showf...vc=1&PHPSESSID=

If that doesn't work go to http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/index.php
and look in the rural section.

I'll have plenty of questions in the near future.

Kevin

Kevin, it looks like a nice spot, I would like to see other posts as it progresses. You have a LOT of trees ! Is someone going to stake the proposed water line for you ? Looks like you have some chainsaw work...are you going to clear or just flood the area ?

umm...you're gonna have to explain what "stake the proposed waterway" means. Maybe this will explain it.

The bridge is coming out. A dam and 36" pipe is going in its place right in line with the existing "creek". An emergency spillway will be just to the north of where the bridge was. The dam will be about 10' higher than the existing bridge. If the bridge stays intact when removed it will be used on the backside of the dam under the pipe to prevent erosion. Height of the bottom of the pipe will be where the top of the bridge is now. Top of the dam will be at least 14' wide. This is the only way in to our property. It is a private driveway.

As far as removing trees, we've taken all we're gonna take. There will be standing trees in the shallows.
Kevin

Well..., It was supposed to be Monday but you know how those things go. Originally they were supposed to get started in June but hey....they're here now!
The bridge came out today and they moved a whole bunch of blue clay with the Cat 330L and 5 yd. bucket. They dug a good portion of the pond that I've estimated to be 35-40ft. deep. I'm off the rest of the week to take more pictures. Might update again tomorrow if the phone line is still connected.

Kevin

I posted 5 pictures of the action at:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showf...vc=1&PHPSESSID=

I am always jealous of those that get in big Ol' trackhoes. And those that have great looking soil like you do there.

Unfortunately I couldn't afford to get anyone in with anything bigger then my own backhoe when I built my pond but I am thinking of making it bigger and deeper at one end if I can. But I am on rock/shale, and although I can get in clay soil to re-line the bottom after the rock is
removed, I need to figure out just how much rock can be pulled out in a short/affordable period of time... if they can pull it out. Anyone have experience with excavators and rock removal?

More updates, the pond is full, 8 inches of rain on the brand new dam didn't do it much good but it held in there. Go here for the full update with pics.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showf...86&fpart=1&vc=1

or

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/index.php
check out the rural section for update and pics of the dam.

Kevin