Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered

First time poster. I have a 1.5 acre pond that was built by damming a valley in West Virginia maybe 30-40 years ago. The outflow is into that same valley for maybe 1000' more on my land. I've thought of making a second dam, 600' or so on down the line and at the same height as the existing one, expanding the pond by quite a bit.

What concerns me is the existing dam. I need most of it to stay in place for various reasons of convenience -- it would become a peninsula or two of them and there would be a bridge or a large culvert/tunnel type connection between the old and new. I would need to cut a channel through the dam to connect the old and the new, but I'm wondering what there is to that -- i.e., since all the water will drain through that channel, does it need to be a pipe, or concrete or clay lined, or otherwise erosion protected? I can't be the first guy to try this so I thought I would try you guys before I go any further.

The general conditions are very favorable. Tons of water coming in and lots of clay not far down to work with. The out flow joins a blue line on the USGS topos but does not exist on the maps in the area I'm thinking of damming.

Chris,

First of all, welcome to Pond Boss.

I guess I'd be concerned about how much drop in elevation that there is between the beginning of your current pond, and the top of the second dam. You may have so much pressure that you will need clearance from the Army Corps of Engineers to do what you want.

For me, I'd much rather have two or more medium sized ponds instead of one big pond. It gives you a lot more management possibilities -- like one for trophy bass, and another for trophy bluegill. You can't easily do that in one pond.

Give a call to my good friend Dr. Ken Semmens at the WVU Aquaculture Extension Service. Depending on his schedule and yours, he should be able to provide you with a lot of excellent guidance. (Tell him that Pond Boss Ken from High View suggested you call.)

So, where in WV are you? I'm just west of Winchester between Capon Bridge and High View.

Regards,
Ken

Hey, Chris, welcome from another West Virginian! I'm in Harrison County. We have a couple other WV folks on here who post from time to time, too. Glad to have you on board. Sit tight for some more feedback on your question.

I read the WV EPA rule and it seems to more liberal if you keep the dam below 25' total height. It'd be close. I'm glad there'll be advantages either way, but the idea of making them contiguous appeals to me so I'm gathering information on that. If it can't be done, maybe a waterfall or something else will be there to build. I'm in Ohio county north of Wheeling and appreciate the tip about Dr. Semmens. Thanks, CJR

I lived in Wheeling for several years right out of school and my in-laws are just across the river and up a little, outside of Steubenville. We get up there frequently and I am in the panhandle somewhat regularly for work. Love that area.

Do you have any pics of your pond and the area that shows what you are thinking of doing?

If you cut a channel through the existing dam and let it flow into your new pond, you could wind up with a lot of silt in your pond.

I would be in a favor of another pond. I have seen this several times and it works well. We did the two dam system to avoid putting a fence through the tailwaters of the pond. The neighbor just happened to get a pond out of the deal.