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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13
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OP
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13 |
I'm still searching for land to build my lake on. My uncle who's got the list of up coming properties for auction found me a property in west TN 63 acre. Looks to be most farmed land with a small creek on a corner. Average rain fall is 53". Looking to make a 40 acre lake on site. Average 7ft depth. Property contains 3 large pole barns each 10,000sq+. Was thinking I could use gutter funnels to lake. Would also plan on adding in a well on site. What other ways could I get water to maintain lake with such a small amount of run off? Has anyone ever put some water proof fabric under the grass layer to increase run off?
Thanks
Forced to work born to Fish
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Talk to the counties NRCS agent before bidding to get an idea if the dirt will hold water.....
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,793 Likes: 71
Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
Joined: Jul 2010
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Looking to make a 40 acre lake on site. wow...that's a big pond!
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13
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OP
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13 |
Will do Esshup. I hope to go out today and see if I can access property for a soil sample. Two small ponds appear to be on the property as well.
Forced to work born to Fish
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,177 Likes: 28
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,177 Likes: 28 |
40 acres on a 63 acre lot... wow! Would you consider breaking this up into smaller more manageable sizes? 40 acres will be next to impossible to manage, feed, and if the worst comes to pass, to eliminate undesirable fish from. Many folks here would much prefer multiple ponds over one large one to allow different species mixes and some experimentation. Personally I think it would be a lot more fun as you would have a lot more shoreline to fish from, and not be forced to use a boat to hit much of the water.
To keep a 40 acre lake topped off with a well will require a LOT of water and a LOT of energy.
A bunch of smaller ponds may be more manageable with limited runoff.
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13
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OP
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13 |
I may consider breaking it up into two bodies of water. I'm really just looking for different ways to obtain a full water level with limited run off. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.
Forced to work born to Fish
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028 Likes: 274
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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I believe I would calculate the runoff before designing the pond. Additionally, can any neighbor divert the water that would come to you?
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13
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OP
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13 |
Dave. It looks like my run off would come mainly from the property only. Creek comes across the east to north and a paved road frontage across entire south property line .
Forced to work born to Fish
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861 Likes: 298
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Joined: May 2014
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Snake, what is your annual average rainfall? In deep east Texas, we get around 45 to 50 inches a year, and the minimum watershed per acre of pond is around 5 to 1. 10 to 1 is better.
I'd be concerned with a very large body of shallow water. You could have major evaporation issues, plus weed issues.
Not trying to discourage you, it would be awesome if you could pull it off. But you need to think it through carefully with expert advice, in my view. Best of luck!
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,654 Likes: 1
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Filling a 40 acre pond with runoff solely from 63 acres at an annual rate of 53 inches of rain and a well sounds like a very difficult task.
"I love living. I have some problems with my life, but living is the best thing they've come up with so far." � Neil Simon,
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Where will all the spoils go?
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 219
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 219 |
40 acre lake on 63 acres ? I think that it would be difficult to find a 60ish acre plot anywhere with the essential necessities for building such a lake,ie, accommodating topography, surrounding watershed, soil type, and overflow constraints to name a few. I know of thousand acre plus ranches that can't impound 40 acres.
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13
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OP
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13 |
Spoils of digging for sure would be a concern, I don`t mind having grassy dunes along some of the property edges. Flood event I would need to rely on the nearby creek for help transporting excess water away from property. If I was to break down and not go for the 40 acre lake, instead a 20 acre lake, and four 5 acre ponds. How would this change my water runoff possibility`s ? or would it change at all? topo map show very little elevation changes 400-420ft through I would say 90% of the property.
Forced to work born to Fish
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
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Joined: Oct 2014
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SB,
You know I'm not a pond pro but....
Unless you can divert the creek to fill the pond/lake...
Doing the math my screwed up way...53 inches of rain per year will raise the pond 53 inches. 1 inch evaporation per week will lower the pond 52 inches per year (assumes 0 leakage from the pond). The 23 acres of watershed around the pond will contribute only when the soil is saturated and you have runoff, so let's say a 3 inch rain gives you 2 inches of runoff from the 23 acres. The pond/lake will rise 1 inch from the runoff. IMHO If things go perfect, to fill a 7 foot deep 40 acre (or however you chop it up into smaller ponds) will take a very very long time, if ever.
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 219
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 219 |
Depending on the terrain, the watershed would also include the runoff from adjacent properties that might drain into the 63 acre plot. I assumed that the 40 acre lake would be a dam type reservoir, but apparently the intention is for a mammoth 40 acre excavated hole in the ground. If so, the excavation and trucking costs could be enormous.
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