Hanna's Swimming Pond

[AlanB]

So, those of you who remember my house project, might remember that we wanted to put a pond out front. We have had a small one a bit to help with runoff, but have had the time and resources here lately to put a bit more serious effort into it. Unfortunately, that means landscaping business is not going so hot, but what do you do

Anyway, we have a very, very, very wet front yard, so we want a place for the water to collect (pond) and some nice yard around it, clear, shady, grassy etc. Somewhere along the way Hanna (SWMBO) and the kids decided it would become a swimming hole, pool, etc. etc. So, my part is digging a hole, and building a dirt mound for the slide I guess, oh, and a big Zip line.

Hanna and the kids are going to have to figure out the swimming pond part and how to keep it clean enough. (yeah,, right)

Got down into the red clay base (dug down through the muck /water) and the clay was dry and solid so it looks like it will hold if I get down there and line it.

I am also filling my hole I dug to red clay for my shop (solid base) so that give's me a place to put the red clay spoils, so we are filling that in slowly.

We are building a dirt berm (I call it a golf course berm) along the street, so as the large trees that currently block the view die (they are dead or dying, tore up by wind, disease and no care) the view from the road will be the berm, not my front yard / swimming hole.

Extra topsoil we stockpile and sell.

Last Thursday, we really were moving some dirt, Hanna was breaking ground with Lil, the 555C backhoe, Jeff was moving dirt / Digging with his CAT trackavator, he was loading me in the Dump with Clay, I was moving it too the shop area and Dean (14 year old son with large smile on his face) was running Jeff's Gehl (Takuechi) with pilot controls. He is use to the Bobcat 743 with Bobcat controls and the extra power, tracks and quicker pilot controls make it fun.

Anyway, we also put in a new well pump, tank, lines etc. and got it all working this weekend.

I operate on the "how do you eat an Elephant?" thought

One bite at a time.

My projects get drawn out, and seldom get done, often just get useable and then it is on too the next project that is not useable. One day, I may grow up and go back and finish some stuff :thumbsup:

 

[rtimgray]

Looks good so far. Just remember - growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional!

Good luck and take care.

 

[EddieWalker]

LUV IT!!!!

Looks like it's going to be a good sized pond. Will you stock it with fish? How big of an areas is it? I really like the zip line idea. That should be a lot of fun!!!!

Eddie

 

[AlanB]

Went and measured last night, looks like it should come out to around 50' by 90'.

Not sure how she will keep it clean enough for a pool / swimming pond, and that will determine if we stock fish or not.

I am thinking it will get fish, and clean enough is clean enough, but I have been told I was wrong more than once on this adventure

 

[EddieWalker]

If it's hot enough outside, then it's clean enough to swim in!!!!!!!


Eddie

 

[TWD]

Looks like you have power nearby... should be able to keep it moving

 

[AlanB]

Yeah, we will probably pump it in someway, I am thinking some form of pump to pump it too the top of the waterslide and have it run down to "lubricate" things, and then be able to adjust the nozzle and make it a spray when desired. Just have to see, at the rate I work on things that is a ways out.

Made some progress again. Man, 3 hours on that steel tracked trackavator / loader is rough on a fat man. I would hate to do that for a living 8 or 10 hours a day.

I think little bites are in order to keep my burnout level down. Probably have to break off and work on dad's trailer some and get it set to go.

 

[EddieWalker]

Alan,

I was on the dozer six hours today and the same yesterday. I think all tracked vehicles beat the heck out of you. I know mine is a torture machine and it's just a matter of time until I can't take it anymore and have to get off of it. I have found that sitting on a really comfy cushion makes a huge difference. Mine is for wheelchairs and it works miracles on my backside.

Eddie

 

[bindian]

Alan,
I sure envy you with all those toys at your disposal!
hugs, Brandi

 

[AlanB]

Hi Folks, been meaning to update for a while and have not got around to it till I got reminded. :thumbsup:

So the pond is done dimensionally, it worked out to about 40 or 50' X about 90'. Deep end is about 16' to 17' deep. We left pretty steep walls figuring they will slump on their own and as a swimming pond steep is good.

So far, we have just done clay lining. The bottom is all red clay, the center is White clay or "Guthrie Soil" in the local parlance (holds water like a cup) and on the top layer, I dug back about 5' and inserted more red clay.

I am hoping that it holds, and this area is so low, the running joke when I put in fence posts is that they are not fence posts, they are plugs to keep the water in. :laughing: Not all that much of a joke at times.

Present thought is let it ride fix the run in's and wash outs as they develop and see how / if it holds, then make a decision. Will line it if needed, but will probably try gypsum and bentonite first.

As you can see from the staked hay bales, I got behind the curve as usual and did not get them in before it started washing some, then it was so wet and mucky I did not want to put equipment in there to refill so Hay bales just got staked in as best I could and on to the next project.

Currently doing some dirt work behind this to put up the new greenhouse (s) a 16 X 48 and a 12 X 16 but it is just too soupy with the current weather.

Hopefully the pictures show OK.

Water is about 3' deep now.

Let me try posting some of the bigger pictures. See if I can hit a happy medium.