building a pond

Buckeyemac · Jan 24, 2017

Am considering putting in a small pond (less than an acre) with a dirt scoop and my new to me, Jubilee. Have the time and sounds like fun. Would a subsoiler make it any easier? Am not going to dam up a stream, just going to use natural runoff. Would appreciate any comments you could give on this project. Thanks

Stephen Newell · Jan 24, 2017

Keep in mind if you don't do the project quickly it will start filling with water and that will be in your way. I enlarged an area of a creek that run across my place so I rented a bulldozer to quickly move dirt. The first time it rained enough water run in the creek the pond was full.

Janicholson · Jan 24, 2017

If your soil is tough clay or has clay in it, i would say it will make a dramatic difference. Plowing up a single strip then scooping it out is as good as it can get with two tractors. If it will fill the scoop, it doesn't need the tillage. Jim

ss55 · Jan 24, 2017

A moldboard plow makes dirt easier to scoop up. Add up the number of cubic yards you need to move and the distance you need to move them, it adds up fast.

Look into an overflow pipe or a spillway to protect your dam from bursting.

newhollandnut · Jan 24, 2017

I would use a disk and a grader box or blade. A plow will work but the disk will make finer material and be less likely to struggle with dig in from your tool of choice. The disk will also make your spoil nicer than big globs of dirt. Biggest thing is have fun! Take your time and be careful. If you get in over your head or have problems you can alway call in back up. There is always an excavating company needing something to do or some bored buddies

TomH in PA · Jan 24, 2017

I'd rent a bulldozer. Much faster and a lot more fun. Use the tractor for grooming until the first rain.

Also, a dozer will pack the dam down a lot better. Whatever you do, don't run a drain pipe through the dam; it will leak, guaranteed.

RobCons · Jan 24, 2017

My experience with a similar set up just moving loose dirt and gravel is you will be there awhile. Bring a lunch.

Buckeyemac · Jan 24, 2017

Only have the Jubilee so far, so am glad to get the suggestions. Soil is predominately clay.

old · Jan 24, 2017

Well if you have lots of time and lots of gas money yes it can be done. But it will take years to do unless you work on it day in day out for many many hours a day. Guess how I know?? I have lived where I do for almost 37 years now and started digging out my 2 small lakes back in the early 80s and they still are not any where like I want them to be and I used my 841S with loader plus a dozier and other such things and they are yet to be more then a few feet deep

jlewis457 · Jan 24, 2017

I have made one with a slip scoop and Ford 961.
When I owned part of a pipeline business I made a few more with bulldozers and excavators. The most important thing when building any pond is to cut a key way in the dam down to the hard pan then start filling in the dam do not use solid clay the dam will slip. Building a pond with any kind of equipment is fun and quite a learning experience enjoy your self and have fun
John

Stephen Newell · Jan 24, 2017

Mine was also clay. After I got down six feet or so the clay got so hard even the bulldozer wouldn't cut it. I think to have gotten any deeper I would have had to have an excavator too and someone to operate it. Still it's only dried up once since I dug it. One year we went nearly six months without rain.

Adirondack case guy · Jan 24, 2017

You are dreaming, In most places you will be in deep poo with EPA or who ever controls wetlands in your area, just to start with. You better go to your local soil conservation agency and get a lesson on what you CAN NOT do, under current regs.
Loren

Deeredriver2520 · Jan 24, 2017

I built an acre pond, has three springs feeding it. 18 ft deep. Nice an clean,
Some guy stopped and asked if I had a permit, I said yes in my pocket. He never asked to see it.
I had my pistol permit in my pocket.

showcrop · Jan 24, 2017

(quoted from post at 16:32:53 01/24/17) Well if you have lots of time and lots of gas money yes it can be done. But it will take years to do unless you work on it day in day out for many many hours a day. Guess how I know?? I have lived where I do for almost 37 years now and started digging out my 2 small lakes back in the early 80s and they still are not any where like I want them to be and I used my 841S with loader plus a dozier and other such things and they are yet to be more then a few feet deep

If you were to go to work with a dozer instead of that dozier that you keep referring to you would have had it done years ago.

VicS · Jan 24, 2017

There is a good sized pond East of me. The owner dug it with your equipment. Took him 3 summers. He left the center of dam open so it caught no water. But I think as 6 ft. Box blade with teeth would be faster. When I tell anyone he dug that with a 600 Ford they don't believe it.

Moonlite37 · Jan 24, 2017

It is entirely possible but is not cost effective. I have 4 ponds each less than a half acre and each has over 1,000 yards of excavation, Your rear scoop holds about a quarter yard. The farm I how own had a levee built with a 2N ford tractor in about 1950. The fellow worked about a month and wore out the engine on his tractor. On the other end of the farm I have a levee that was built with a shovel and wheelbarrow in the early 1900. In the center of the farm there is a now broken levee that was built with shovels and a small trailer pulled with a model A ford car in the early 30's. I have a good John Deere 450 C I would not attempt to move 1,000 yards. I can get a D6 with operator for $125 an hour and he is three times as fast as I am. His machine is twice as big as mine and he is a better operator. I would not run my machine for $40

300jk · Jan 24, 2017

With natural run off you will be constantly fighting water which will make a mess. If you are looking to build a pond I would do like some others have said. Get the right equipment and don't play around otherwise you could end up with a partially dug hole not even close to a pond. I have around 20 years in the field, 18 years in digging and moving dirt. Did many ponds or lakes 10 acres or bigger. Do I know it all ? No . Only you know what you are getting yourself into. Clay is good to work with. I would say you are under gunned for the project unless you can keep all the water out from where you are working and you have a lot of time and I don't mean just weekends. Sorry if I sound harsh but just want you to know what your getting into.

Spudm · Jan 24, 2017

Contact your local Farm Service Agency or NRCS and tell them what you want to do. They have cost-sharing programs available and people to assist you with design and layout. If not, you could find yourself in trouble with the Department of Environmental Quality.

David G · Jan 24, 2017

That is a real uphill battle with that equipment, it will fill in with water if natural drainage and tractors do not work well in the mud.

jm. · Jan 24, 2017

But if he does not core the dam to start with most likely will never hold water. Now way he can dig the core slot with a small tractor and pond scoop. Like to see folks try things but no need of wear and tear on the tractor if the results are not going to be anything.

jr1983 · Jan 24, 2017

Nothing wrong with what you want to just takes a while. Sounds like fun people get to stressed about this stuff. You have to use your head and devote a lot of time but fun. I want to know where some of these guys live. I'm in IL and if I want to build a pond I can do it and the EPA cant say anything. Period. If you go to the courthouse and ask for a pond permit they'll laugh a lot. The only restriction here is dam height which is federal. Over a certain height the army corps of engineers has to approve it.

NEKS · Jan 24, 2017

If this ponds is going to be less then a acre surface water I'd would not contract nobody unless its in a stream that runs all the time. All the BTO's around here all have there own dozer and most have a excavator. Some even have end dumps parked in the line up with their grain trailers. Owning there own machinery saves them from having to contract the ASC or NRCS offices if they want to move dirt.

Hobo,NC · Jan 24, 2017

I talked to my investor today we are gonna buy stock in oil fields what brand of fuel do you plan to use.

paul · Jan 24, 2017

My govenor would take over the pond created and give it to his pheasant hunting buddies. You couldn't build within 300 feet of the shoreline, couldn't plant crops within 50 feet.

Would never do that here any more.

Paul

Richard G. · Jan 25, 2017

Hate to disagree, but a dozer packs the ground a lot less than a wheeled tractor. I built my dam with a JD A and a pull type dirt pan. It packs it much better. A dozer has the weight spread on tracks and a wheeled tractor has the weight pressing down on a much smaller area.
Richard in NW SC

BushogPapa · Jan 25, 2017

Just a few words of advice... You may need to loosen the soil before you try to scoop it out...I am thinking maybe use your Plow for that.

I do not think a Jubilee will pull a Sub-Soiler and I sure would not want to abuse it..!

If you have a 2nd tractor available, you may want to use it as the Plow Tractor..( and that Sub Soil will probably pull fairly hard)..

pete black · Jan 25, 2017

many have alluded to it but none have said it: a pond of 1 acre or less is a tremendous undertaking for a dozer let along a small tractor. A pond is much much more than just scooping out dirt. dam location, stability, height, width must be considered. then there is pond dept and slope. too deep and the tractor cannot work it, too shallow and all you will have is sun light driven water plants. fun to attempt? maybe. possible but not probable.

Texasmark1 · Jan 25, 2017

I was as you are once. Since you added time was not an option and wanting to use your existing equipment that leaves out having a professional do the work out. Prepare yourself for a long haul. Not a problem, just understand it won't get done in a New York minute.

As others have stated, you need to learn something about pond building before you start. Also you need to cut the soil before you scrape it away meaning 2 different implements....however a box scraper with scarifiers would do that job, a 5' on that tractor. This would require scarifying across the whole thing, adjusting them out of the way, dragging that dirt out, putting them back down etc. No biggie, just time consuming.

Soil percolation is definitely a consideration. If you locate it in a sandy or rocky environment it won't hold water. Even in heavy clay like where I live, it may take years (mine did) for it to silt in enough to seal the pores and have it hold water adequately.

Good luck

building a pond

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