Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions leaking pond..help!!!!

Hi ...I have an interesting delema...my pond was dug to a depth where it got into gravel...this depth is also in the water table...when I turn off my water source the pond receeds to the original water table mark...I am giving some thought to taking 2 feet of my soil material and capping the gravel in hopes that it will seal the pond...will this work? or will the water always receed back to the water table? ..thanks tim

Yes that is the way it was done on one of my ponds. As long as the soil had enough clay in it it should work. I'm not sure it it was 2 or 3 feet on my pond, and packing down with a sheepsfoot roller would be optimum.

Good news, bad news.
A water table makes sure you always have water...at the table. It might rise or fall, but you are at the mercy of the table.
A thick layer of clay, compacted, can solve the problem, but you best be sure the entire bottom of the pond is covered, and packed.
Then, if you don't have enough water, drill a shallow nearby and pump from the water table. Cheap and easy.
Check local laws, though, be sure you can punch a hole and pump.

Just a few things that might be a good thing to check out before you get finished you say you hit gravel in a spot or two then I would think you would have thin spots in other spots and alot of times these do not show up till the presure of the water gets to be to much and they let go and your pond starts leaking I have seen this swallow a dozer before Just have to becareful to compact intire bottom and sides with good clay or the best you have on site.