Small Pond Project.........

[EddieWalker]

Looks like you are getting a good start on it. With your depth, I don't think there is any advantage to putting anything on the bottom of the pond unless you build it up to where it's within a few feet of the surface. Remember, once it's full of water, you can't do too much more to it, so it's now or never.

Eddie

 

[cartod]

Looks like you are getting a good start on it. With your depth, I don't think there is any advantage to putting anything on the bottom of the pond unless you build it up to where it's within a few feet of the surface. Remember, once it's full of water, you can't do too much more to it, so it's now or never.

Eddie

Ok, another stupid question. All of this structure im putting in now will have to eventually decay. How do you go back and add structure to keep the habitat intact?

 

[EddieWalker]

Logs in water decay over such a long period of time that it's not going to happen in your lifetime. Decay happens from wood getting wet, drying out and getting wet again. If a log stays dry or stays wet, it lasts almost forever. Piers rot where they dry and get wet again. Same thing with fence posts. They never rot out in the ground, always at the surface of the ground where water puddles and then dries out. There is HUGE money if finding logs that sunk in lakes and rivers a hundred years ago because of their old growth and tight ring patters that are hard to find today. Those logs are in perfect condition except for external damage caused from what they've have hit over the decades.

Eddie

 

[cartod]

Makes sense now Eddie. Thank you for all of your help!

 

[bindian]

Cartod,
Your on the right track now. I dug my first pond with my backhoe and dug the bottom where it left underwater islands of solid clay. Since I just stock catfish in my ponds, I don't have much cover, other than cider block "hotels" for the fathead minnows, along with a forklift pallet for their spawning. The pallets have to be replaced every two-three years. Be sure to stock Mosquito fish. I don't have mosquitoes with them in both ponds.
hugs, Brandi

 

[GPintheMitten]

Now is the best time but people do create structures and haul them out on the ice and let settle to the bottom in the spring.

 

[cartod]

We seeded the dam and the rest of the new yard. Poured a pad on the bridge in the stream on front side of property. will pump water up to pond during rain/snow melt. Hopefully will be full by spring.

 

[kevin37b]

Swamp loggers .

 

[cartod]

About 4' of water in the bottom and holding nicely. My 8 year old lab is in heaven, here is a short video of her first retrieve out of her new water hole.

http://vid22.photobucket.com/albums/b307/cartod/Mobile Uploads/IMG_1370_zps65a5f32b.mp4

 

[EddieWalker]

There is a saying that there is nothing like seeing water overflowing from your pond for the first time. I heard it before mine was full and totally understood it when it happened. Then there is realizing that your pond is alive and doing things on it's own. Plants appear that you didn't plant and only grow in ponds. Turtles show up from creeks a mile or more away. Frogs are everywhere, and best of all, fish you didn't put in there, somehow magically appear. Mother Nature is going to take you for a heck of a ride!!!!

Eddie

 

[cartod]

There is a saying that there is nothing like seeing water overflowing from your pond for the first time. I heard it before mine was full and totally understood it when it happened. Then there is realizing that your pond is alive and doing things on it's own. Plants appear that you didn't plant and only grow in ponds. Turtles show up from creeks a mile or more away. Frogs are everywhere, and best of all, fish you didn't put in there, somehow magically appear. Mother Nature is going to take you for a heck of a ride!!!!

Eddie

Awesome! I cannot wait! And once again Eddie, Congratulations!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Awesome. If you like it half as much as your doggie, things will be fine!

Your dog will learn to go get in the water 3 times a day when it gets hot.

I'm waiting on seeing my first alligator in my pond. Hasn't happened yet, but it could.

BTW, I finally found out my pond is 2.5 acres in size using a google earth "area" tool.

 

[farmer2009]

Good to here you have water starting to collect.

A good tool for soil research and land measuring is The Web Soil Survey run by the NRCS. Will try a link not always good from my phone.

www.websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov

 

[cartod]

About 4-5 more feet to go. There is lots more ice on it now then the photo shows. Got the telephone poles set for dock. Going to stock 100 lbs. of trout tomorrow which will be caught out before the 1st stock of the permanent fish.

 

[jix]

About 4-5 more feet to go. There is lots more ice on it now then the photo shows. Got the telephone poles set for dock. Going to stock 100 lbs. of trout tomorrow which will be caught out before the 1st stock of the permanent fish.

Hi Cartod:

Wow, wow, wow.. I looked at your photobucket end to end. Very Impressive home and grounds, congratulations!

The pond is coming nicely, the rest is just time and patience..and money. Perhaps, good fishing. If trout don't work, check out Tilapia for a broodstock.

You have a multimillion dollar place there. I hope it fills your days with joy..and you, your dog and your family with happiness and serenity...Jix

 

[cartod]

That's very nice of you to say Jix, thank you sir.

 

[dave1949]

It's filling up! Nice.

 

[farmer2009]

Pond is looking nice. It'll be even better during summer. You did a nice job insulating your house. Snow looks to be sitting nicely on the roof.

 

[EddieWalker]

Love seeing the snow on the house and around your pond. Congratulations!!!!


Eddie

 

[cartod]

Broke ope the ice last week and put in 100# of rainbow trout. Family had a blast catching some for thanksgiving. Still have about 4-5 more feet to get to full pool.