Thanks to everyone for their input about the blanket core issue. One thing I forgot to mention in my original message is that the dam does not meet a 3:1 slope on either side, therefore reconstruction on the inside would definitely shrink the water holding capacity of the pond. Maybe this is not a big concern since everything I've read indicates pond surface area is more important than depth or water volume. With the blanket core on the inside, we would not lose much pond surface area, and I guess we could raise the dam another foot to gain the surface area we would lose with the blanket core. We would still have 13 to 14 feet max depth, and in
southeast South Dakota, that is plenty. Thanks again for everyone's input.
Steve,
