I inherited a camp with a small pond on it recently when my dad passed away. It was built in the 60s by my grandfather and really hasn't had much done to it since. It is located at the base of a hill and is primarily fed by rainwater. It has an 8 inch original overflow pipe and a spill way on the opposite side from where water enters. Approximately 2 or 3 years ago, the spillway washed out after a severe and prolonged rainfall. Luckily, there was bedrock about 4-5 ft down which kept the pond from completely draining, but now there is an 6ft wide, 20ft long area missing. Now that I have a vested interest in the camp, I want to repair the spillway, but know that it's far more complicated than simply filling in the missing section. I guess that I'm looking for some ideas and insight in order to repair and prevent future washouts. I should also add that the spillway is against a wooded hill on one side and the only access is along the narrow side of the pond that is only wide enough to fit my sub compact tractor with a loader so I'm limited in getting large amounts of anything all at once. I'm going to try to add pics for reference as well. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Problems often occur when "fixing" dams. Stuffing soil in often leaves a seam of different soils and packing is dang near impossible. See if you can mix the new soils with the old ones.
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
An emergency spillway should be made in virgin soil and the slope should be gradual. It is best if the spillway has grass that will lay down and protect the soil when water passes through. Since you seem to have a bedrock base, you could clean up the rock in one area and put in a concrete dam with appropriate bonding to the rock, but a better solution is to put the spillway in another location in virgin ground with a gradual slope, and then seed it with grass. The old spillway could then be filled in with good clay added in 6" lifts each of which is compacted with a sheeps-foot roller. Not sure if your site would allow this though.
I have thought about doing this, but I am limited since the spillway drains to the road and has washed it out on numerous occasions until the town placed massive boulders at the bottom and improved roadside drainage so moving it isnt an option bc of the downstream ramifications. I have also considered a concrete dam tied into the bedrock with rebar, but the spillway still had water draining at any given time since the bedrock isnt as low as the bottom of the pond. What about a concrete bag dam tied together with rebar and then back filled behind it? It wouldnt be ideal but might provide a sturdier structure other than simply filling in the washout. I have even looked at purchasing a 10x10 pond liner to put on top of the concrete bag structure to prevent leakage. At this point, I just want function over anything else. I'm tired of seeing the pond die a slow death!
