I am not sure if this is the right forum, but i have been working on a pond on my property for a while now, and i have some questions. Part of my property is really low and wet, so i am just digging down, instead of daming it up. I have cleared all the trees and stumps out and dug about a 10 foot by 20 foot pond so far with my backhoe. I plan on digging a small pond about 30 foot by 65 foot, and i am wondering if an 11,000lb mini excavator for the weekend could do this. I plan on running the excavator, while my brother moves the dirt with the backhoe. The only reason we are getting the excavator is because the backhoe is getting stuck, and it just doesnt have the movement to swing the dirt all the way around. So, is this feasable, or am i just dreaming. Any input would be appreciated.
pond
- Thread starter GFwoody00
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brin
Super Member
MY pond is 2 Acres and it was built years ago with a track loader but it is spring fed and the spring was diverted when it was built so it was not real wet in the pond constuction area..if yours is real wet then a track loader won't work , it would get stuck too but I would think the mini excavator would get stuck as well...tracked equipment will get stuck..really stuck and it is a real mess then. Just my thoughts, I'm sure others will have more ideas to add. Good Luck with your pond, they are sure nice to have.
20 20
Elite Member
An excavator is probably the best machine for pond digging, if an operator knows what they're doing they shouldn't get stuck.
A 11000lb mini will have NO trouble digging a pond this size 30X65. The problem you'll have is keeping up with dirt removal. How deep are you planning on going? Are you moving the dirt very far? Once you start moving the dirt you may have issues with the BH getting stuck again.
A 11000lb mini will have NO trouble digging a pond this size 30X65. The problem you'll have is keeping up with dirt removal. How deep are you planning on going? Are you moving the dirt very far? Once you start moving the dirt you may have issues with the BH getting stuck again.
the pond will be about 8 to 10 feet deep. I will not be moving the dirt very far, just getting it out of the way with the backhoe. I can clean up all the dirt after i dig it all out with the excavator. My brother has a dumptruck and we have a place to dump it. So, i can take my time cleaning up afterwards. My main concern is the excavators size, i will only be renting for the weekend, but im starting to think i can get it done.
20 20
Elite Member
you shouldn't have a problem. The things that may slow you down could be very hard soil, large rocks etc. What type of ground/soil are you digging in?
dave1949
Super Star Member
You need a method to your madness 
Maybe begin with a full depth, full length trench down the middle of your planned pond area. At the low end, where your pond overflow would run out, dig enough away to make a little drainage ditch there. That should begin to drain and dry out the areas on both sides of the center trench. It will also set you up right in case a heavy rain comes before you are done. The last step would be to refill the ditch to whatever height you want.
It would be a pain, but this may be easier to do if you give the area beside the first trench some drying time before tackling the rest of it. Beats getting stuck.
After that, it is a matter of 'widening' that trench on both sides until you have your desired overall width. That would keep both the mini ex and backhoe on the highest ground available. You may have to build up a temporary ramp to support the backhoe, it's tires are going to chew wet dirt into a real soup.
A tracked excavator will go through some amazing muck, but I was told there has to be firm bottom below the muck and not so far down the tracks are completely buried.
Dave.
Maybe begin with a full depth, full length trench down the middle of your planned pond area. At the low end, where your pond overflow would run out, dig enough away to make a little drainage ditch there. That should begin to drain and dry out the areas on both sides of the center trench. It will also set you up right in case a heavy rain comes before you are done. The last step would be to refill the ditch to whatever height you want.
It would be a pain, but this may be easier to do if you give the area beside the first trench some drying time before tackling the rest of it. Beats getting stuck.
After that, it is a matter of 'widening' that trench on both sides until you have your desired overall width. That would keep both the mini ex and backhoe on the highest ground available. You may have to build up a temporary ramp to support the backhoe, it's tires are going to chew wet dirt into a real soup.
A tracked excavator will go through some amazing muck, but I was told there has to be firm bottom below the muck and not so far down the tracks are completely buried.
Dave.
Wow, that trench idea is a really good idea. I never thought of doing this. I may try to dig the trench with the backhoe, and let it dry up on either side. Then rent the mini. The dirt is mainly a black silty dirt with clay underneath, i never had to hard of a time digging, its just the getting stuck part that sucks. Great advice everyone. I appreciate the input, I will post pics when i restart my project.
dave1949
Super Star Member
If you can drain it with a center trench, it's just possible that stripping off the silty stuff down to the clay will give you an even better surface to work from.
I picked up these ideas watching a guy do my pond, which was situated in a very wet area too. I couldn't believe the goop his excavator and dozer could crawl through. But, basically he started with a ditch down the length of the pond, it had water running in it the whole time he was digging.
Dave.
buck12
Veteran Member
Those mini excavators are amazing. When I bought my current house with pond the pond bank was too rough to cut with a lawn mower. My neighbor is a commercial plumber and has access to mini excavators. Over two weekends he cleaned up the bank and dug out some deep areas in front of the dock for fish habitat. I watched him bury the tracks in mud that I thought for sure would stick the machine. He would use the boom to pull the excavator out. Of course this was an experienced operator that knew what he was doing.
