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new pond #11383922 02/01/16 06:26 PM
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jeffnsa Offline OP
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I am buying a 20 acre tract with a house and barn that I am going to put a 1-2 acre pond on. The ground is all sand so what would i do to keep the water in and if I plan on adding a pier to it do I sink poles into ground before adding clay or whatever.

Re: new pond [Re: jeffnsa] #11386170 02/02/16 04:13 PM
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Wolfe Hunter Offline
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put in a liner


"When something bad happens, you have three choices.
You can either let it define you, let destroy you, or you can let it strengthen
Re: new pond [Re: jeffnsa] #11389181 02/03/16 07:24 PM
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Bill77 Offline
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A liner would probably be best, but costly. I had a pond built in East Texas sand many years ago. The pond area was excavated about 12' down to the clay layer and the dam was also packed with clay - the pond held water fairly well.

Re: new pond [Re: jeffnsa] #11391639 02/04/16 06:00 PM
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jeffnsa Offline OP
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I hope there is clay under the sand.

Re: new pond [Re: jeffnsa] #11402864 02/09/16 05:06 PM
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Meadowlark Offline
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Jeffnsa,

Hope just doesn't cut it. I say that with respect and with the experience that building/maintaining several ponds brings.

Do some homework. Are there ponds nearby(neighbors) that hold water? Or don't hold water? That info can give you an indication of what the subsoils may be like. Is there a reliable pond builder in your area? ...if so, go ask them about the subsoils in your area. Its likely they will know.

If you aren't satisfied with that info, then do a soil test/core sample and find out for sure what is beneath the sand.

Unless you have money to burn, you absolutely do not want to start out building a 1 to 2 acre pond without that info. A liner may work...but is cost prohibitive, minimum $50k.

After you establish that feasibility, then do some calculations on the watershed. You may or may not have sufficient watershed to maintain a 2 acre pond...and then it comes down to natural rainfall and/or supplemental water...both of which are highly risky and potentially very expensive, in the case of supplemental water.

Ponds are great fun, tremendous resources...but they can be heartbreaking ventures, not to mention bank-breaking.

Do your homework!

Re: new pond [Re: jeffnsa] #11404830 02/10/16 01:59 PM
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jeffnsa Offline OP
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I'm doing a lot of reading right now and have some time on my hand recuperating from spending that much money for a new house and land. I will probably have to call someone out eventually to do a real assessment and settle for a third to a half acre pond but gosh darn it I'm gonna dream big in the beginning. I have a well and city water but I don't know how much water is on hand to use and I don't take possession of the property until Monday. I have hopes and dreams but I won't start on the pond for possibly a year.

Re: new pond [Re: jeffnsa] #11446295 02/29/16 12:04 PM
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Dave Davidson Offline
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Jeff, Meadowlark is right about soil composition and suitability for water retention. And, his advice on watershed is an important consideration. He knows what he is talking about and always gives good advice.

Several considerations. An inch of water over one acre is about 27,000 gallons. Remember that number. Thus, a well can generally not keep up with evaporation in arid climates. I would go broke buying electricity.

What is under the sand? Dig some test holes. If rocky or more sand, save your $. There are ponds and stock tanks in your area so do your homework by looking around and talking to locals. If you find sandy loam, it might work. From the test hole, assuming other than rocks and/or sand, make a ball of the dirt and drop it on the ground. If it stays together, it will probably work.

There is no substitute for a dozer guy who knows the area and is experienced in digging holes that hold water. Check a lot of references. If he hits a sand seam, it will have to be covered with a couple of feet of well packed clay.

The key numbers are average rainfall, runoff area, soil suitability, and $$$$.

Stocking fish is the cheapest part of the process.

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