Info about Pond renovation

[RandyHamilton]

I have a . 75 acre pond in Southeast Indiana that is 35 plus years old with a lot of silt/sediment/sludge in the bottom. Depth runs from 3. 5 to 8 ft. Standing below the dam you look up about 14 feet which makes me think that this pond was once a LOT deeper. I would like to make it deeper but raising the dam isn't an option. This leaves me two options:



1. Trackhoe and bobcats to move the muck



2. Breach the dam, let it dry and then use a couple of bobcats or a small dozer.



Option 1, I am told is much more expensive than Option 2 but Option 2 requires me to start over with stocking fish. Option 2 allows me to possibly dig deeper and more easily expand the pond which is something I have thought about doing for a while.



I guess what I am looking for is how much more expensive is it to move wet muck than to move dry silt.



All suggestions and comments greatly appreciated. .

 

[moparguy]

If I were considering this project, I'd look at using a 4 or 6" pump to pump the pond dry. Then clean it out.



As a benefit, you'd be able to have a fish fry for all the neighbors. It's not a bad idea on a old pond to start over with a restock after 20 years or so.



RR

 

[TowPro]

My Dad has been thinking about this for several years with his pond. Problem with 2 is after you drain it, it has to sit for a long time to get dry enough to get any equipment into the pond. You figure if it was once 14' deep, now its 8' deep, there is 6' of mud in there.



Now his pond is smaller then 1/4 acre so we were thinking of using a extendahoe and just start pulling muck out, then spread it out through the woods.



Even with a larger pond, if an extend a hoe can reach 15', you will just end up with a shallow part in the center. This actualy gives you more shallow water for the fry to find cover. Plus water lillies could be planted into the center where its shallow and they could work there way across the pond as they grow.

 

[Dl5treez]

Not sure of Indiana's regulations and such, but here a person can contact the S. D. Game, Fish & Parks Dept. and they'll come out and vacuum the fish out during the drain, and supply the restock when the pond is ready again.



That whole "environmental enhancement" thing..... might be a viable option for the fish issue.



Just a thought.

 

[me4osu]

Try to contact your local soil conservation agent. They do this all of the time, and might pay for half of the bill.



I had mine re-done in '98 during a drought, so I can't help on the drain/no drain question. Mine was completely dry when the contractor came out, but the Govt. still paid for half of the bill.

 

[RandyHamilton]

Thanks to all for the suggestions and comments,, keep em coming,, I am like the horse that wants to cross the stream but is afraid of the water,,,, not sure what to do!!

 

[AggieJustin]

Around here, people will pump the tank down then either break the dam or push the mud out on the low side with a dozer. Spread the mud over a large area to let it dry. Most of the time when they are cleaning out a pond it's either to fix a dam (so they don't worry about breaking the dam to clean out the mud) or to enlarge it. So they just push the mud till they hit hard ground, then start shaping.

 

[Sled Puller]

A small cable rig outfitted with a dragline or clam woud give you more reach than a hoe, to both dig, and throw it away.



I would dry the muck, disc it it up, and sell it-excellent topsoil.

 

[vegasredneck]

You could partial pump down and backfill a landing for a drag line. As you dig out increase you landing area and work the machine out further. Even if it is an older unit and you should be able to find one on a farm or old construction company around Indiana. You use a dozer on the other end to pull the bucket. It's going to be a lot of work but you can move mud. Just a thought