Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions Pond Expert in My Area

Hello,
My husband and I just bought land in Sadler, TX. We have a one-acre pond that when purchased was full (March, 2005). It was about 5 ft. deep at its' lowest point. It is now September, 2005 and the pond is dry with large cracks in the bottom.

We are interested in hiring an expert in Ponds locally and getting his advice as to how to 'start over and get it right'.

Any ideas?
Monica

Monica,

According to your address, you are located in the breadbasket of the Pond Boss World Headquarters. Bob Lusk, the driving force behind Pond Boss, is going to be the fella you are looking for. He might even be your neighbor!!

Russ

I strongly endorse Russ's comment. Can't go wrong with Bob Lusk.

Monica,

Okay you've heard from the Yankees, now a word from the Texans...Bob Lusk is the number one choice.

It sounds to me that you have a serious leak problem. Even though it has been a very dry summer, you should not have lost all of your water. Did you notice any wet spots along or behind the dam area when you had water? Those cracks you see are probably in the bottom muck.With the pond dry, you have the opportunity to clean that out, add good structure, and have a great pond.

I'd like to encourage you to act quickly. You have about a month or so to do any work in the pond before the fall rains start in again. If you can get it fixed in that time, you should be able to get your forage fish in this fall including fatheads and CNBG and really get off to a great start next spring. Otherwise, you will effectively loose one growing season.

By the way, none of us on here can hold a candle to Bob, but we can offer lots of advice...now whether it is expert or not, you will have to judge that yourself.

Did you notice any wet spots along or behind the dam area when you had water?

We don't have a dam. We have a "run off" from higher ground on one side of the pond.

Monica Muil

Monica,

It sounds like you have an excavated pond (no dam) versus an impoundment pond (one with a dam). From your initial post, I gather the depth of the pond is 5 feet. Like ML said, it sounds like you have a serious leak, perhaps a situation similar to this Hit gravel while digging the pond

If it were me, I would investigate the following: (1) What are the underlying soils like in the bottom of the pond.
(2) Make an attempt to locate the contractor who dug the pond and question him as to whether or not they ran into problems during the initial build.
(3) Contact the prior property owner and quiz him/her.
(4) Ask your neighbors about the pond.

Not to pry into your personal business but did you buy the property based on the pond?? I think most here would agree that springtime is not the best time to verify the water holding capacity of a pond.

Russ

Monica,
Please call me at 903.564.6144. You will get my office, they will pass your number to me, I will call you.