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Small Pond Project.........
- Thread starter cartod
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dave1949
Super Star Member
A dam good dam!
:laughing:
Seriously, and I bet you have thought about it already, but for the sake of liability management it's good to consider what is below/beyond that ravine, or could be in 20 years, where the wall of water would run if the dam failed. Are you thinking of digging down in the area where the brush is piled? That would help limit the amount of water that would leave in a failure situation.
OP
cartod
Platinum Member
There is nothing of value below the dam that would create a liable situation, also there is a reason you don't need a permit under an acre, it's just not enough water to do much damage.
OP
cartod
Platinum Member
Burned all of the tree tops this weekend using my loader as a tender. Now I just need to remove the stumps and build the dam.
HarryN
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Guess you couldn't wait to get that fire going, huh? LOL
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cartod
Platinum Member
Finally a clear view across the future pond. The excavating should begin now in just a few weeks. The long stretch of ground just above the tractor will be removed and used to make the dam. That puts the water line right below the trailer that you see in the photo.
Gary Fowler
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I think I would just leave the stumps as habitat for the fish as long as they were not in the way of digging.
OP
cartod
Platinum Member
They recommend I remove most of the stumps as they can make the water toxic over time. I know, I know, they leave the whole tree in some of the big lakes but I have heard this from more than one reputable pond builder.
bindian
Super Member
When you get the stumps out, cover any root holes with a good thickness of clay and pack it down. Like wise on the dam and dam core trench........pack it all down good. Then pack it some more. Any root left is a potential leak.
hugs, Brandi
hugs, Brandi
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cartod
Platinum Member
Will do Brandi! Yep, the stumps that are there now have a continuous stream running under them. Even in the driest summers there was water flow under the tree roots.
oosik
Epic Contributor
You have the beginning of a very nice pond there. Standing water will breed mosquitos - lots of mosquitos. Now is the time to build a "bat house" and encourage local bats to roost at your property. The bats will keep all the upcoming mosquitos in check. I speak from experience.
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EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
That's a real nice setting that you have there. The house looks amazing and the pond will only make it look that much nicer!!!!
I wouldn't worry about those stumps too much if they are going to be in the water and not part of the dam. You want to dame to be as free from anything organic as possible. No top soil in it and no roots or branches that will decay over time. From the picture, it looks like you are on the side of a hill and the water will be coming down the hill to fill the pond. How much hill is above the pond and is there any concern of too much water coming down and overwhelming your spillway?
The number one reason a dam fails is water running over it. The water erodes the dirt and it just keeps working it's way down until all the water is gone and you have a big gap in your dam. I've seen it happen about a dozen times around here and I'm sure I'll see it again. A big rain will put a lot of water in there quickly, you need to be able to get it out of there just as quickly once full.
Another concern is how tall will it be and how steep will the dirt be on the dam? You never want trees growing on your dam because their roots will tunnel through the dam and over time create a path for water to travel through the dirt in your dam. Grass that is maintained and mowed a couple times a year is a great way to protect your dam from erosion, which means it has to have a slope that you can mow. Rock, riprap and gravel are even better, but very expensive since it has to cover a lot of area and be thick enough to protect the dirt below it from erosion.
Eddie
I wouldn't worry about those stumps too much if they are going to be in the water and not part of the dam. You want to dame to be as free from anything organic as possible. No top soil in it and no roots or branches that will decay over time. From the picture, it looks like you are on the side of a hill and the water will be coming down the hill to fill the pond. How much hill is above the pond and is there any concern of too much water coming down and overwhelming your spillway?
The number one reason a dam fails is water running over it. The water erodes the dirt and it just keeps working it's way down until all the water is gone and you have a big gap in your dam. I've seen it happen about a dozen times around here and I'm sure I'll see it again. A big rain will put a lot of water in there quickly, you need to be able to get it out of there just as quickly once full.
Another concern is how tall will it be and how steep will the dirt be on the dam? You never want trees growing on your dam because their roots will tunnel through the dam and over time create a path for water to travel through the dirt in your dam. Grass that is maintained and mowed a couple times a year is a great way to protect your dam from erosion, which means it has to have a slope that you can mow. Rock, riprap and gravel are even better, but very expensive since it has to cover a lot of area and be thick enough to protect the dirt below it from erosion.
Eddie
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cartod
Platinum Member
Thanks Eddie. I have two 8" pipes that will be filling the pond. The pipes carry runoff from surrounding hills. I was more concerned about not having enough water....So I guess Ill just have to wait and see. My plan is to make the back of the dam gradual enough to mow, and the emergency spillway will be packed with rip rap and will hopefully handle all the water Mother Nature throws at it. I will post photos as soon as the excavating begins. Water will be about 25' deep at the dam.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Just imagine the worse case scenario and then double it. When it rains and it's really coming down, you wont be able to do anything about it if you don't have enough rip rap on the ground to stop erosion. I saw a tractor stuck on the dam with a load of dirt in the bucket trying to get to the place in the dam where the water was running through it a few years ago. I guess the owner saw it happening and tried to get out there and stop it. I think he got lucky he wasn't closer to the opening when he got stuck!!!!
Eddie
Eddie
Thats a lovely spot for a dam! I think it will be much bigger than you imagined. Have to agree with Eddie about making the top of the wall wide enough to drive a dozer and the banks sloped so you can mow. Worse case scenario plan for the water to go over the top, if its wide and level the water will spread out without gouging a hole. I suggest you have the top levelled with a laser. Also consider means of draining the dam, I buried a pipe at the base of the wall. For my spillway I used old corrugated roofing sheets and covered them with rocks. Keep the pics coming.
farmer2009
Elite Member
If you will bring the dam about 3-4 feet above the emergency spillway you will allow the pond to catch the water the spillways can't handle and hold it for a few hours. If you are close to the coast you may want more as Virginia can see hurricanes.
An acre pond has a lot of water in it. You said dam was about 25feet of water. If you get an average depth of 12 feet. That is 12 acre feet of water which is almost 4 million gallons of water. Try and figure your average depth so you know your capacity.
An acre pond has a lot of water in it. You said dam was about 25feet of water. If you get an average depth of 12 feet. That is 12 acre feet of water which is almost 4 million gallons of water. Try and figure your average depth so you know your capacity.
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OP
cartod
Platinum Member
Thank you folks for some very good information........ I have every bit of it in my notes..the dig will begin on Tuesday. I put in this stone wall at the far end of pond, as it's the view through our big windows. I will post photos as we progress. Again......thanks.
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cartod
Platinum Member
......oh...the bat houses are up!
GPintheMitten
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You live in a cathedral!
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Never mind the pond, I want to see more pics of those beams!!!!! You are building my dream house.
Eddie
Eddie
