Update on the pond construction. Another half day of bulldozing, and the grading will be complete. Some of the spoils dug out 6 months ago are still moist and sticky. The contractor got his bulldozer stuck a couple times.

After reading all the posts in this forum about the need for clay soil, clay lifts, compaction, etc., I was completely paranoid about this pond holding water. It is a dug pond in loam/peat, and I am happy to say that it is holding water like a champ! No extra measures taken. It filled nicely over the winter and early spring to 11 feet deep, about 3 feet shy of the expected full pool. It lost only a couple inches during the current drought where we haven't had rain in 6 weeks.

Some grasses are growing around the shore, and some mats of a submerged plant are starting to flourish. Can somebody give me a quick ID on the plant shown below?

Edit: I will guess chara (muskgrass). It has some odor when crushed in my fingers, but not horrible.

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Last edited by Knobber; 06/11/23 02:45 PM.