Spring/Pond Build

[Airic]

Been working on this pond on and off for the last 2 years and it will probably go on for the next 25. Been making some real good progress want to share in my development. First photos are just after siphoning up the silt and picking out all the garbage and setting in the bottom drain. Not much of a plan back then.

 

[Airic]

Then I got a tractor and the work really began. Early this year I took out the trees on the back side and let it refill. The rocks in the middle have been my water level reference for this build.

 

[Airic]

Then the excavation began for the construction of the base of the dam which involve removing all of the top soil and creating a core trench.

 

[Airic]

Then the pond dig began by excavating all the clay out and layering it for the build up of the dam in 2" lifts. Believe it or not, this only took me 2 day.

 

[Airic]

Letting the pond fill to see if she holds and keeping my fingers crossed. I think it took 4 days to fill.

 

[Airic]

Now you are all current on my build. This last weekend I finished building the dam retaining wall till I get more stone. Added a stone book end till I start up again. Still need to level the top and add a rock edge but, done enough to let the pond fill again.

Next up is the spillway and more rock collecting. After the spillway it gets exciting with the start building the bio filter and waterfall.

 

[DrCase]

Your moving along ,,,the pond looks realy good...

 

[mister2driver]

Your pond is massive!!!
I wish I had that kind of land to work with. GL.

 

[Airic]

Not provided an update for a while. I've made few step forward and now I'm taking a few steps back. I'm sort of a perfectionist and as I've watched the pond levels drop in the summer the shallow side has really be bugging me. I like the rock islands but, the earth around them and shallow areas look bad so now I'm going to do somthing about it.

My plan is to dig this area out by at least another 2'. The rocks islands will go back in but, this time I'm going to build concrete columns for them to sit on. I've got my access road built to this area and pulling the big rocks back out for the dig.

Fish are still doing fine. They have a little smaller area for now but, still have a 3' of depth. Not decided yet but, I may still relocate them for this work.

 

[koiguy1969]

looking good buddy!

 

[koikeepr]

a pond owner's work is never done. Everytime we think we're done...we come up with another "improvement." LOL! Nice!

 

[Airic]

Here is my drained pond after my fish harvest. Not had much time within the pond digging with work and weather but, still moving forward. Still have a lot more digging to do to get the right depth and still need to build my rock island piers. Been collecting rocks like crazy and I almost have enough to completely line the pond walls and finish my waterfall. Between me and the ones at my friends house we have a full tri axle load now. Unfortunately all have been hauled by my poor little Toyota pickup about 40 times.

 

[koikeepr]

awesome! little by little it goes!

 

[Airic]

A little more progress. I so badly want to be done with the major digging before winter.

 

[koiguy1969]

that is gonna be a nice size pond...wish you the best in its construction, and good weather so you can keep going!