pond+rain= #@*!%

[20 20]

Send it my way, we shure need it.:thumbsup:

If NY is up hill from TX, then it's on its way, I've got both pumps runnin 3" hose on one and a 1.5" Hose on the other. Not sure how long it will take to get there but once it hits it should last atleast 3-4 days

 

[EddieWalker]

Interesting project. How are you moving the dirt that you dig out?

What type of excavator is that and how old is it? I really want one, but can't really justify it for what I'm doing.

Eddie

 

[20 20]

Interesting project. How are you moving the dirt that you dig out?

Hey EddieWalker, I started by bulldozing it to the back of the pond but it is to wet to push through the narrow area I have. The pond is kind of an odd shape it is sort of like a horseshoe. I did have some dozer issues{another thread} that have set me back and made me go at things in a different approach. Now I am moving the dirt with a skid steer once it is out of the pond. It doesn't have to go real far 100 or so feet. At the back of the pond there is a drop that I needed fill for. I think one of the pictures shows the top of the pile.

What type of excavator is that and how old is it? I really want one, but can't really justify it for what I'm doing.

Eddie

I own a mini excavator, best thing I ever did, very handy, only thing is I wish I had went a little bigger maybe around 8,000lbs + -, mine is only 4,000lb. The big machine{20ton} is an old hein werner{70's}. I fell into a fairly good deal on it. It does need some TLC and once this pond is dredged I plan on putting a bit into it. The hein werner is a fuel hog and quite slow but it can move a lot of dirt with one scoop, and it's strong as an ox.


As you know digging the hole is the easy part, moving the dirt can be a challenge. I can also say digging a new pond is waaayyyyyy easier then dredging one. I'll try to post some more pictures once things start moving again. We are having so much rain right now it has become a full time job trying to keep them pumped out.

 

[Thomas]

I hear you 20 20.
Been dry here last couple months enough so I was mowing places I never had before but w/last week 2 day down pour and today's heavy rain need rubber boots,water standing on ground..hoping for one good mowing.

 

[swmich42]

Looks like a really great spot you have. Great area. We visited some friends near Old Forge. We have a low area we wanted to deepen, to create a pond. Area is wet most of the year, with Sumac growing thick and wild. Currently do not have correct equipment to do the job, nor money to get someone to do it. Hope to start that project at some point. Good luck with your project. Looks well on the way to being finished.

 

[Cub124]

If we got a bunch of rain at one time it would just run to the nearest creek, it wouldn't do anything but settle the dust. We had 2 foundation walls replaced just four months ago and one all ready cracked because of the drought.

 

[20 20]

Well the rain was real heavy the last couple of days so it just about filled things up again, even with both pumps going allmost 12hrs a day. We where in a drought before this and needed a little rain but this is just plain crazy. They're saying it is suppose to clear off today and stay decent for the next few days. Hopefully I can get it drained and let it set for a day or 2 and get back in there and move some slop.


Swmich42 I started digging this pond with an old 1949-50 case sc tractor with a trip bucket. I traded that for a 49 oliver dozer, it was a beast but with the old float carb{gas engine} it would start up an incline and stall because the float would shut off the gas . I then rented a BH, that ended up being a mistake and actually caused me a lot more headaches then what it was worth. Then I rented a 312 cat excavator that moved a lot of dirt real fast and did a great job. The problem I had while running the 312 was that NY had flash floods that year{highest rain ever recorded}. What happened then was washout, quite a bit of the dirt I moved out washed back into the pond . This time I just pulled all my resourses together and hopefully will get it to where we want it. Of course machinery can and will break, expected. Then mother nature likes to deal her blows every now and then. One thing on my side this time is I don't have to worry about returning equipment. What I have may not be new fangled or perfect but it is here to stay and does the job. I quess I have time on my side in away except that winter is comming The pond was okay the way it was, it was stocked and we did swim, but it just wasn't as deep as I wanted it to be. I was shooting for 20' but will be happy with 12-15' especailly with winter creeping up fast and all the issue's I've had. The sad part is I had it all set that I figured it would have taken about 2 days to finish, ....then came the rain :mur:

 

[rswyan]

Well the rain was real heavy the last couple of days .... We where in a drought before this and needed a little rain but this is just plain crazy ....... The sad part is I had it all set that I figured it would have taken about 2 days to finish, ....then came the rain :mur:

Believe me when I tell ya I feel your pain ... I was within a few days of finishing my drainage project around the barn .... and then the forecast changed to a little rain (1/4") ..... and in less than 24 hours that changed to 1" to 2" ....... and I'll bet that we got every bit of that 2" .... and then some .....

After that a couple of nice days (but not warm or long enough to dry it out) and then we had low pressure area come in and sit right on top of us for 4 or 5 days ..... rain wasn't heavy, just steady .....

They're saying it is suppose to clear off today and stay decent for the next few days.

It finally cleared out here late yesterday afternoon and is sunny right now - supposed to stay that way for about a week.

Hope ya get everything done that you looking to .... :thumbsup:

 

[EddieWalker]

I admire your determination and wish you all the best of fighting mother nature. Sounds like you're winning the battle, but in small amounts at a time.

Eddie

 

[20 20]

Here is another picture, starting again, finally got the dozer fixed. Sounds like we're going to have some fair weather for the next few days :thumbsup: