Flame, I paid $100/hr for a dozer and $150/hr for an excavator. You might be able to do it for less with a smaller dozer. I don't know the sizes but I'd estimate at least a 10 ft blade on the dozer and 20+ft boom on the excavator. We also had a smaller dozer for finish work. We spent 8 days excavating and building (and re-coring) the dam. We drained the old pond, cleared some fairly large trees and added about 1 acre of new pond with an average of about 9 - 10 ft depth.
It will probably take longer than you've estimated so be prepared. Be sure your contactor shoots grade so he gets it right the first time. Don't want him coming back to re-grade the spillway if you can avoid it.
Last edited by WingNuts; 10/06/14 10:27 PM.
