Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam Breached Earthen Dam

A hurricane caused my family's 30 acre large pond to be breached two summers ago. After exhausting communication with NGO's and Gov't programs to provide assistance in rebuilding it, I am looking to gather as much knowledge as I can to possibly repair myself, or make accuses not to

The pond - which I would consider large - is about 30 acres in surface area with a maximum depth of perhaps 10 feet. It is fed by two streams, one of which is at least 10 feet wide at its greatest width. The breach happened at the point in which the largest stream comes closest to the earthen dam, which runs about 200 yards long on the north end of the pond. The breach is about 25 feet across and is now part of the stream. On the same earthen dam is a mechanically controlled vertically gated spillway with four four-foot wide gates. The earthen dam is about 8 feet tall from pond basin to the top of the dam, tapered on both sides and wide enough at the plateau to drive a small truck (S-10). I know nothing about how the dam was built. It is old. It was reconstructed (not sure to what extent) at least 30 years ago, and constructed, initially, at least 50 years ago. Less than 10 years ago the dam was patched where animals had burrowed. In addition to the breach, there is one other area were the hurricane caused earth on the back side of the dam to deteriorate.

Attached photo shows the breach: Dam on right, what used to be a pond on the left.


























Looking forward to comments/suggestions on where to begin rebuilding,

Ignorant Pond Owner

You've found the first part of the equasion - finding us.

Welcome to the forum!

I would stop in at your counties NRCS office. Get them to look at the dam and see if they can help plan the repair. They will know how large to make the primiary and emergency spillway, etc., etc. The USDA/NRCS also has an 80-100+ page publication on building ponds. They should be able to furnish you a copy, or point you to where it's found on the internet.

It'll take some heavy equipment, $$ and time. If possible, since it's pretty much water free at this time, I would spend a lot of time planning the renovation, and also planning on what your goals are to be for the pond. I'd also call the Pond Boss office and buy the book "perfect pond - want one?" That will help guide you in your quest, and also give you some reading material for the "library".

Welcome to PB,

I would not wait to long in starting the repair process. You never know how the "authorities" will look at it in regards to damming up a river/creek. The longer it is left NOT a pond, the more they may frown on you fixing it. Just a rambling thought.....

That's an accurate thought. Word is in Virginia, after two years from a breach repair becomes damming a creak and not repairing a dam.

So, buy two books and rub elbows with NRCS for now.

Not sure I would want to rub elbows with the NRCS until I found out about the breach/damming issue.