How much dirt work with a MT242HE?

[paulsharvey]

Allnof that is based on a pond that is 4 season, wet pond. If you are OK with seasonal, or less tall, that changes things.

 

[DylanE]

So, before you get too serious, you need to dig 3 or 4 test holes and do a perk test. If that wash area doesn't naturally hold water, your entire idea becomes more trouble. Dig a kinda smooth, 3 ft deep hole, and see how long a bucket of water takes to perk.

Next, you need to locate your proposed embankment source (the dam), and make sure your borrow material also holds water.

If both hold water well, I would start cutting your borrow material and make sure you have the machine to do it, and I would pile it close to where the dam goes. It's easier to quickly grab from the stockpile, than go "mine" it from the hill. Once you have atleast 50% of your borrow ready, cut the keyway, 1 bucket wide, all the way across the wash area, and start back filling with your borrow. Your going to want a 2:1 slope on both sides, so a 6 ft high dam, is going to be at least 12 (front), 12 (back), 8 (core and maintenance berm), or 32 ft wide at the base. A 6 ft tall berm, 50 ft long, is going to use 355 CY of material.

Once it's build, dont cheap out of stabilizing the dam, it needs grassed

I’d like it to hold water year round, ideally. I’ll have to go dig some holes in that pasture. Plenty of farm ponds around here, so I imagine the soil can’t be too bad.

It also sounds like it’ll definitely be a project for a few days of rentals.

 

[paulsharvey]

I’d like it to hold water year round, ideally. I’ll have to go dig some holes in that pasture. Plenty of farm ponds around here, so I imagine the soil can’t be too bad.

It also sounds like it’ll definitely be a project for a few days of rentals.

Yes but the more you can get ready and stage, before renting the equipment, the better. You probably don't want a $4000/week hoe onsite, before you start looking for your borrow pit.