Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions How much clay is needed?

I had a new pond dug with a dozer. It is about 50 feet wide by 150 feet long. On about 1/2 of the bottom and on the uphill side we hit shale and unfortunately it leaks. It has had up to about 3 feet of water in it but it leaks out in about a day.

I would like to line it with clay. Can someone please tell me about how thick I would need to make the clay lining?

Thanks,
B2620

With good sticky red clay, I believe 18-24" is usually recommended. I would go with 24" if it were me. The moisture content of the clay is important, as is the tamping.

We have a few real pond construction experts on the Pond Boss forum, and they'll give you the real scoop. Meanwhile, welcome. We're glad you found us!

Hello B2620 and welcome to Pond Boss. Hopefully we can get Otto or one of the other dirt movers to weigh in here.

Welcome 2620 glad to have you with us, you will love this place.

The clay needs to be put in, in six inch lifts packed then another six inch lift. The clay needs to be moist for the clay to pack properly.

Are you planning to do this yourself or are you going to get some help.

Otto

You might want to use a coarse mixture of clay so the fines will leach into the rock and seal if you pack it thick being on the uphill side it might loose bond on incoming water pressure in the spring also build solid from the base up so it does not slide back into pond. When under constuction if there was water entering pond from shale bond might be hard to acheive.
Shale is sedimentry most shale in our area runs in fine layers we have had good sucess with a layer of 30 mesh bentonite applied before parging clay with an excavator.
If there is water pressure coming from the shale it will break the bond

Good Luck
Scott

Hey B2620,

I am also new here and have the exact same issue as you, so I'll be watching your post as well.

Just curious, Can I assume by your name that you are a Kubota owner?