Hello all, This is my first time posting on this great site. Lots of knowledge on here Thanks all for sharing! Here is my pond Dam. Attached is a pic with highlighted in yellow is approximately were the drainage diches are located. After reading the importance of "Keys", I was not onsite when the contractor started building the dam. He assured me that he did put a key in. I was thinking of having him put a 2nd key or plug in the drainage channel, just to be on the safe! Has anybody done this?
I can't give you to much on this question, but perhaps a little is better than nothing. You have the yellow rectangle marked on your second picture. Is that where you would put it? Outside of the current dam?
My thought is the builder supposedly did one.I would let it go at that and see what happens. If you see problems when it starts filling, or a year later, have him come back and put one across that area you have marked. Of course it may be cheaper to do it now, than to have him com back later. Or he would do it for free since it wasn't done right the first time?
From what I understand. the key does two things. I think the most important part is to lock the new dirt in with the old so the dam does not slide horizontally from water pressure. Second, I think it helps with leaking, but I am not positive about this. Water tends to find its way around, up and down, thru any open veins. So to make sure it does not leak, I think it is more important that the entire basin, including dam, is compacted with multiple layers of clay. You should still be able to get him to do this if it hasn't filled yet.
