Large pond silt removal

[scesnick]

What is a ball park size and shape of the pond?

I posted a pic above but the size is probably 3/4 acre or so.

 

[Redneck in training]

Disclaimer: I have never tried anything like this and I have no idea if it would work.
Here is a "scheme". If the material you want to remove more or less suspended (like leaves would) you could use a trash pump. The pump would have to be quite large. But I would create a "filter" upstream of the pond in example a dam from square straw bales and pump the water above that. It will catch the silt and let water drain back to the pond. Since the silt is a fertilizer you could spray and /or spread it on your lawn.

Your pond is about 0.7 ac. Assuming average depth 4 - 5ft it contains about 1 million gallons of water. Large trash pump can pump about 300 -500 gal/min. Estimating about an average foot of muck on the 25% of the area of the pond it could take take several hours to pump it out at 500 gal/minute.

If you opt for a machine there is a backhoe that can operate in muck.
The biggest industry in the place I was raised in is fish farming. The fisheries use Menzi Muck BHs to fix the ponds. It can ride, walk and climb. I have seen it working in 4-5 feet of water.
The Menzi Muck in water supply and distribution

 

[scesnick]

Disclaimer: I have never tried anything like this and I have no idea if it would work.
Here is a "scheme". If the material you want to remove more or less suspended (like leaves would) you could use a trash pump. The pump would have to be quite large. But I would create a "filter" upstream of the pond in example a dam from square straw bales and pump the water above that. It will catch the silt and let water drain back to the pond. Since the silt is a fertilizer you could spray and /or spread it on your lawn.

Your pond is about 0.7 ac. Assuming average depth 4 - 5ft it contains about 1 million gallons of water. Large trash pump can pump about 300 -500 gal/min. Estimating about an average foot of muck on the 25% of the area of the pond it could take take several hours to pump it out at 500 gal/minute.

If you opt for a machine there is a backhoe that can operate in muck.
The biggest industry in the place I was raised in is fish farming. The fisheries use Menzi Muck BHs to fix the ponds. It can ride, walk and climb. I have seen it working in 4-5 feet of water.
The Menzi Muck in water supply and distribution

Now that is a slick machine right there. Of course I don't want to take out a second mortgage just to clean the pond. But if a person used their ponds for a living (fish farmer) that would be the machine to have for sure.
My pond is 5-6 ft deep depending on where you measure. The main reason for wanting to get the silt out is my kids HATE it when they are swimming and it stirs up and muddies the water. Hopefully it will also allow me to gain a foot or so of depth.

 

[pat32rf]

Scesnick- I have much the same problem, except that it is a small bay in the downwind corner of a small weedy lake that has filled with sediment. 40 yrs ago it was sand bottom with the exit stream running out that flushed it every spring. Then an alternate lake exit was created in another corner leaving the bay to fill with ***** over the years.
So far I have collected a 2" electric sewage pump, a 2" gas pump, and a floating 8x10 dock. This spring I will bite the bullet and buy 100' of 2" discharge hose, now that I see the Piranna rig...
It may take some time, but I am retired and have more time than cash.....

 

[forester2]

There was a piece of equipment sold that does exactly what you are talking about. They mount it on a small pontoon barge (all different sizes made) and consists of a trash pump connected to a 'head' that almost looks like a snow blower auger. It chews up the stuff on the bottom so it turns to a sludge that can run thru the pump. Guys were buying them around the country to service ponds like yours. With a little digging, you might be able to find someone in that business.

 

[jinman]

I have a large pond that we swim in every summer. . .
. . . Over the past 50 yrs or so alot of sediment has made it's way into to bottom which is not pleasant.

Another real problem as I see it is likely not going to be getting the silt up out of the pond, but what you will be doing with the spoils. Eddie Walker is very quick to note this problem with anyone digging a pond or cleaning one out. I can tell you that it can be a serious bit of work to transport the silt away to a safe place where it will not just wash back into the pond. If you pump silt onto a barge, you'll have to wait for the water to drain out some or it will be nearly impossible to haul. If you use a long hose, you might be able to pump into a vehicle, maybe a dump trailer parked near the pond, and haul the mud away. You will be hauling and dumping mud which is not always easy to do. The water running out the silt alone can cause a bog that will sink your trailer and towing vehicle. You'll need a good solid road with good drainage to haul over. Lot's of thinking and planning will need to be done. Just make sure you have a good plan that will work to get the muck out and away. :thumbsup:

 

[HeyNow]

You may want to check into aeration for your pond. My 2.5 acre pond is decades old and I put in three air stations last year. While aeration is not a cure all, it is supposed to reduce muck levels over time allowing the little microb critters to clean it up for you. My pond seemed very healthy last year and the fish appeared to be less stressed during the hot summer months. Go over to Pond Boss and check the aeration section.

good luck.

Randy.

 

[Redneck in training]

Another real problem as I see it is likely not going to be getting the silt up out of the pond, but what you will be doing with the spoils. Eddie Walker is very quick to note this problem with anyone digging a pond or cleaning one out. I can tell you that it can be a serious bit of work to transport the silt away to a safe place where it will not just wash back into the pond. If you pump silt onto a barge, you'll have to wait for the water to drain out some or it will be nearly impossible to haul. If you use a long hose, you might be able to pump into a vehicle, maybe a dump trailer parked near the pond, and haul the mud away. You will be hauling and dumping mud which is not always easy to do. The water running out the silt alone can cause a bog that will sink your trailer and towing vehicle. You'll need a good solid road with good drainage to haul over. Lot's of thinking and planning will need to be done. Just make sure you have a good plan that will work to get the muck out and away. :thumbsup:

I remember that in old days (50 years ago or so) the fisheries paid farmers to remove the muck from ponds when they drained them for fish harvest. Farmers used to spread the muck on the fields as fertilizer. Sand might be different story but biomas will mineralize in short time. My estimate is about 30 - 50 cyd of muck.

 

[hawkhart]

Of course I don't want to take out a second mortgage just to clean the pond.

Maybe you can apply for a government grant for wildlife habitat improvement projects. Check with your local Dept. of Natural Resources. They should be able to help you out and point to some assistance.

 

[WBWI]

I have a local contractor coming our next week to evaluate my ponds and give me estimate on cleaning them out via trash pump/vacuum method. Here is a link to his website with a description of what he does and some photos of the process. Pond Cleaning Specialists

Tne Wisconsin DNR has strict rules governing waterways. I would have to get their blessing to have it dredged. This vacuum method of cleaning can be done w/o permits if they do not have to truck the silt away for disposal. if we go this route I will probably have them pump the silt into the open field surrounding the pond and use haybales as filters to keep the silt from getting back to the pond.