Building Lake Corona

[fried1765]

I think this would vary depending on location and soil type. Here, I would have to "core" the dam. Basically dig a trench across the base of the dam and then fill it as I build. That creates a "notch" that reduces the chances of leak.

My point exactly!
Most all dams should be cored, even if coring may not seem to be needed.
Awful job to dig it all up, and start over.

 

[kevin37b]

Good to see you back jk ! A keyway is essential and properly done . Need to compact with a sheepfoot in 1 ft lifts . You can rent small vibratory units that are remote controlled . Sounds like a plan , may have plenty of time to work on it ! Kevin .

 

[ovrszd]

My point exactly!
Most all dams should be cored, even if coring may not seem to be needed.
Awful job to dig it all up, and start over.

Seeping ponds/lakes aggravate me.....

 

[jk96]

Well this project could go nowhere fast. Not sure yet. Jumped on the loader again today. Started to excavate for the core to see what I get into before spending a lot of time clearing and the bottom of the ravine has lots of rock. Most bowling ball size to 2 ft wide. Not sure how deep it goes but going to take an excavator for this part for sure and hope it doesnt run too deep. If I can't get through it the dam will never hold.

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[ovrszd]

Can't tell for sure, is it a limestone ledge?

I have one in my timber that is 30 inches thick.

 

[jk96]

Yep. Yellow rock. Looks like limestone. 1st couple feet is all loose stone but dont know how deep it runs. Did find this today. Kind of funny as I needed on just like this to balance out the other rock on our wedding venues outdoor patio. Landscaper only had one last and never brought the second.

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[ovrszd]

The top portion will be loose because of freezing/thawing. The deeper you go the more stable the ledge will be. Hopefully yours is shallow and you can get thru it with your CTL.

 

[bindian]

Good to see you back jk ! A keyway is essential and properly done . Need to compact with a sheepfoot in 1 ft lifts . You can rent small vibratory units that are remote controlled . Sounds like a plan , may have plenty of time to work on it ! Kevin .

I packed my dam in with the loader bucket full and running the front tires over the whole dam. I did it in 6 inch layers. The fill dirt slopes on boths were packed in this way also.
hugs, Brandi

 

[EddieWalker]

I packed my dam in with the loader bucket full and running the front tires over the whole dam. I did it in 6 inch layers. The fill dirt slopes on boths were packed in this way also.
hugs, Brandi

I did the same thing. Funny thing is that my dam doesn't leak and my only loss is due to evaporation, but when I raised my water line by pouring a concrete dame across my spillway, I had concrete trucks drive across it twice, and their weight really showed me how much more compaction I could have gotten if I had more weight then just the one yard bucket full of dirt on my backhoe. Those tire tracks are 2 to 4 inches deep!!!

 

[ovrszd]

Yep Eddie, compaction if often under estimated. But we use what we have.

 

[jk96]

Well today was interesting to say the least. Apparently yesterday while building a road down the center of the ravine to get to the area where I planned to place the dam I hit water and didn't realize it. What was solid yesterday was not solid today. Drove back in today and the bottom went out. Ended up burried to the top of my tracks. Took 50 ft of chains and a couple of hours using my bucket to curl and pull myself out. There is now a steady trickle of water flowing. Now that I'm out my tracks wont spin more than a foot front or back. Not sure if the mud is full of rocks and binding or if they are off. Looking at them my guess is rocks in the mud but back at it again tomorrow to start clearing mud and finish the recovery. Fun times.

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[Jstpssng]

Time to bring in an excavator?

 

[dodge man]

Before I retired as a land surveyor the company I worked for did material testing. I did a lot of compaction testing. Less experienced people would say they “packed the dirt in with their track hoe”. It really takes a sheep’s foot roller to get compaction. Of course building a small pond is less critical and like someone else said, you work with what you have.

Sucks getting stuck. I’m curious how the chains got you unstuck.

I’d say the problem with the rock is if you don’t get a core trench built, the water might find seams and leak. I’d probably just build it the best you can and hope it doesn’t leak to bad.

 

[jk96]

Time to bring in an excavator?

Yep. An excavator is going to be needed for the core trench for sure. Rain moving in tonight for a few days so back on hold for a awhile.

 

[jk96]

I'm curious how the chains got you unstuck.
I

Had to go forward using chains. No way to back out. Used a chain from a tree back to the ctl and under then around the bucket back to the bucket edge. Roll the bucket down to drag the ctl forward about 18" then repeat. Slow and tiring but the only way to get out from where I was.

 

[EddieWalker]

A spring above the pond is a good thing. A spring in the pond means that water can enter the pond through it, but also leave the pond through it. The other thing is that a spring will have a certain water table height, and when you have a lot of rain, the water table is high, and in summer, it drops, so a pond dependent on a spring inside the pond will do the same. It really depends on how high your water table is.

Rock must be covered with 2 feet of compacted clay, otherwise, it is a path for water to travel.

The core trench may help in keeping water from finding a seam under a dam, but more importantly, it locks the dam in position so it does not slide when the pond is full. This becomes more critical with a bigger dam, and a steeper dam.

 

[ovrszd]

Bummer. Sorry you had the mud problem..... A bellied out track machine is almost totally helpless.....

One of my ponds has a spring feeding it. Pond level varies depending on season and weather. Much more than the one without a spring. It was built in the 30s. I'm sure they located it to take advantage of the spring.

 

[jk96]

Bummer. Sorry you had the mud problem..... A bellied out track machine is almost totally helpless.....

One of my ponds has a spring feeding it. Pond level varies depending on season and weather. Much more than the one without a spring. It was built in the 30s. I'm sure they located it to take advantage of the spring.

Loader is free and back to the house. One track was off. Luckily I was able to get the 4wheeler and winch to it to get it pulled back on. Hardest part was getting a 10,000 lb machine in the air in soft ground and mud. Time to watch it rain and reassess my plan of attack.

 

[ovrszd]

I've done several dirt projects. But I've never built a pond. My only concern is the weather during that first couple days of work.....

 

[jk96]

Went back out for an hour and finished up where I got stuck yesterday. Was a little more carefull this time. I now have easy access to get a small excavator in for digging the core.

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