Pond dreaming is over

[philbuilt]

The BB did a nice job of smoothing things out. Then I added some rip rap to the new shore line a sand and crushed ledge mix. ( it's what came out of the hole for the sign) Nice stuff! I spread some grass seed also. I hope it takes.
Are there any idea's on watering? There's no power at the pond so I need a way to water the new grass seed. Or should I just wait for rain.
Was thinking of a small waterfall pump and use a gen or power inverter.
The first 2 pic are of the new smooth area and the last 2 are the woods where I pushed the dirt. The water that you can see is a start of the waterway through the woods

 

[coopers]

Phil,

What month do the trees start turning green? Those recent pictures?

Blake
WA

 

[MadDogDriver]

Can anyone tell me how to put the pictures in the post rather than the links
Thanks
Phil

Phil,

When you upload your photos into the post and want to have them appear automatically rather than links try this technique. Upload your photos as you've always done, place your cursor where you want the photo to appear in your text, then click onto the "paperclip" again you'll see "Manage Attachments" and the title(s) of the photos you just uploaded.



Click on the title of the photo you want to automatically post and you will see "ATTACH # /ATTACH" appear in your text. That is where that photo will appear in your post. I think one of the reasons TBN has the photo insert option as links rather than automatically posting is for those that are on dial-up. The post will load faster for them if the photos sizes are small or they're available as links. For those of us that are fortunate enough to finally have hi-speed internet, it wont' matter.

Hope this helps.

 

[philbuilt]

Coopers
The pic's were taken today, we should start seeing green very soon they all have buds.

MadDogDriver
Thank you here is my first attempt. These geese are having a ball just hanging out and swimming.

 

[EddieWalker]

Phil,

Do you have a drag to smooth out your dirt?

I use a log with some chainlink fence wraped around it so some of it drags behind the log when I'm pulling it. I've seen other things used too, but the log and fence is pretty basic.

The pond is looking really nice. I like the natural shoreline and the way the land is just a little above the water!!!

Eddie

 

[MadDogDriver]

Good job, you got it Phil! Looks like your pond will be a great place to fish & relax (even from a distance just looking at it).

I'm so jealous of your project. We have a section of our land that is probably just a few feet above the water table and unusable for even a garden tractor in the winter/spring. I've been considering installing a french drain (which I'm not sure would even work), but turning it into a pond instead would be more enjoyable. It's obvious my 9' BH would be woefully inadequate for the pond project. Your excavator looked like it made quick work out of digging that hole. I'd have to wait until Aug/Sep to let the ground get real hard and stable to start `cause I have dreams of an artesian well popping up as soon as I get down just a few feet.

 

[philbuilt]

Eddie,
I don't have a drag yet but it will be on the list soon. I did not even think about something like that because of the size of the tractor and the trees I would have to go around. Then it came to me I could just use my lawn tractor to pull it around. Just to much focus on the big machine.
I did rake it out by hand.
This weekend I will bring home "Thomas" It has tracks and a small FEL. we use it at work to drill small holes for enter and exit signs. It's quite usefull we have forks, 4",6",12"and 20" tree auger bits and a bucket and it's only 30" wide so I will be able to smooth around the trees.

MadDogDriver
The BH on our tractors are great but they have there place. I answered a post on Creigs list so I think I sold the loam pile. If so I will rent a big excavator again and double the pond. 8 hrs of machine time i can do alot of damage fast. I will dig on the sides without the trees so I won't have to worry about the swing or hitting anything. On the field side I will be able to level the remove spoils with my tractor and BB. Believe me that renting the right tool for the job can save some time and money in the long run.

I agree forget the french drain and putt the pond. I find that it is my favorite passtime. What to do next and how to fund it. Then the worries of what fish, how to clear it or not, should I build a dam and raise the water level the list goe's on and on.
If you dig we will watch. Post some pics of the plan as you can see there is alot of help here.
Phil

 

[philbuilt]

Last night the guy that is buying the loam pile showed up and started sorting the pile.
They plan on hauling 21 14yd loads The pile Will finally be gone
I will post more pic's of the removal.

 

[philbuilt]

Here are more pics
















The last one is from the woods looking up at the remainder of the pile.
They hauled 200yds away and spread about 150.
I will use the BB again and try to lower it some more.

I did get to mow the feild and watch this happen.
And I ordered more fish

 

[MadDogDriver]

That's really starting to look nice Phil.

You've been using some pretty BIG BOY toys with the excavator and that 2yd 544C. I think you said you rented the excavator, did you also rent that JD or buy it?

 

[philbuilt]

MadDog, I answered a post on Creig's List. The guy was looking for loam.
So he hired the loader and 3 14yd trucks to haul it away. Best part is I got paid for the dirt and didn't have to do anything.

 

[MadDogDriver]

Now that's the way to get something done. Get paid and have someone else work.

 

[MadDogDriver]

So Phil, what size excavator should I get to enlarge my pond?

 

[EddieWalker]

Phil,

Smart move. Did he ask for any more dirt?

My neighbor has a couple hundred thousand yards he's trying to sell, but nobody wants it. He keeps digging and the pile is gonna get too big for him to continue if he doesn't figure something out.

Thanks for the pics and update. It's all coming together for you!!!

Eddie

 

[philbuilt]

MadDog,
That is beautiful!!! i would not pull that apart. Could that be a start of a man made stream leading to a pond? To answer your question the size of the excavator is in direct relation of the budget and space. I know that I could have dug the pond with my small BH. But 16hrs and $800.00 I dug a 1/2 acre and separated the top soil in hope of selling it. The first machine had a 26' reach

Eddie,
This guy took all he wanted. I will place an ad in the paper and continue to try and sell more.
By the way I seen your Lake creature pic's that is so cool.
I've been reading the post Clay,Clay, and more Clay and noticed that the advice is to add organic matter. I wonder if I would do that to my topsoil if it would lighten it up?
This is a picture of the pile before they started.




The plan for now is to finish my subframe so that I can use my Bh and chip away at the edges of the pond. Now it's just a labor of love.

 

[MadDogDriver]

Thanks. My wife is the "Master Gardener" ...... I'm just IGOR the "Rock Picker"

I did expand it a little while ago. We were doing our "Spring cleaning" to get all the decomposed leaves, etc. out of the water and since it was all taken apart I decided I make it a little bigger with my new BH90-X. That way I could get some more seat time (need to get some pics of the revised "pond")

26' Excavator for $800 in 16hrs is a great deal IMO. The time savings alone was worth it let alone the ease. Our little BHs couldn't come close to doing what you did in probably 1/10 the time and I bet we'd consume a lot more diesel than your excavator did . Did the rental company require some proficiency demonstration from you before they let you loose with it?

 

[philbuilt]

MadDog,
No they did not. I rent from them allot at the sign company so that has never come up. I would think that seeing you have a BH they would rent to you. They wanted $300. more for the 50' reach and transport would have added $150.

Today I hope the fish hatchery calls so we could add another 50 rainbows and 75 Brooke's.
I need to ask them if they will spawn. One of my employees told me that the rainbows need running water. The pond is spring feed so no running water.

 

[MadDogDriver]

I'm am very envious of your project Phil. It will give you endless hours of enjoyment not only once it's completed but I'm sure you can't wait to get back out there every free moment you get.

I'm assuming the Fish Hatchery is advising you on quantity and species to stock or are you using other resources? I would think it'd take some time for the pond to stabilize.

 

[coopers]

Looks great Phil!

Blake
WA

 

[philbuilt]

I decided to try and clear the pond. I now have added 680 lbs. of granulated gypsum in hopes of seeing some improvement. With less than 24 hrs from application we have been getting rain. So the waiting begins. I will wait for 2 weeks and if I don't see any improvement I will add another 600 lbs.
I also noticed some green scum on some of the edges I hope that it's just pollen.

I also called the state about getting a some neutered grass carp. They say that they are against the law. I would like some kind of bottom feeder that won't over populate the pond. the trout have been a great pleasure and I would like to see them grow. I added 50 more today so that puts me at 77 in the pond to date. Rainbow trout are bug eaters and don't need any other forage according to the hatchery guy. I hope they eat tad poles because I have seen a ton of them.

Do any of you have some suggestions for bottom feeders? This state thinks that the only fish types for Maine are trout and salmon.



MadDog,
The hatchery I use only raises rainbow trout. He seem like a nice guy but doesn't talk much. He did say the fish will do good through the winter with no work on my part. He said if there were allot of leaves in the pond then perhaps I would have a problem. There are no leaves because it was a fresh dig. I have been reading allot at pond boss as well.
Thanks again




Coopers, thank you