How Long To Dig A Pond?

big rockpile · #1 04/10/07, 09:19 AM

I can get a Dozer for $60 an hour.How long should it take to dig a 5 acre pond down in a holler?

Now I know you can not be exact but the most time it should take.

big rockpile

SteveD(TX) · #2 04/10/07, 09:23 AM

I would say that it depends on how big the dozer is, how experienced the operator is, and how soft your soil is. Could take a week, could take a couple of months.

A friend of mine built a 3 acre pond at a cost of about $9,000 not too long ago. Hired it out. No rocks, just sand and clay.

Rocky Fields · #3 04/10/07, 10:09 AM

Hey.

Your soil type and terrain will be necessary for an estimate. You will need a blade and a backhoe. Better rent it by the week...much cheaper that way. Get some free estimates from earthmovers for the job. Then decide if you want to do it yourself. The size of the blade and the bucket will affect how long it takes too. Remember gas is estimated to be $4 a gallon this summer, so diesel will be even more. I would figger you have clay soil...

RF

big rockpile · #4 04/10/07, 10:15 AM

Very rocky,timber coverd.

Had one Guy tell me $18,000 one time.I just felt that was way high.

big rockpile

rambler · #5 04/10/07, 10:19 AM

Depends if you ever drove one before.

With no experience, hiring the driver as well will be mouch cheaper than just renting the machine...... Can easily take 2x as long if one doesn't know what they are doing. Of course, if you want to run a dozer, where do you get the experince?

--->Paul

texican · #6 04/10/07, 10:39 AM

BR, don't know about you're area, but 60$/hr won't buy nothing but a smallish dozer.

The final cost is gonna depend on how much 'pushing' the dozer'll have to do.

My pond is around 8 acres, it took em a solid month to get mostly finished, and two months extra to get totally finished... I spent three weeks after hours (the guy left at 4 each afternoon, and 'always' filled the D6 up with diesel... and would "complain" with a wink wink nod nod, how the dozer was losing half a tank of diesel each night, and the beavers were sure pushing a lot of dirt around each night.) I figured I saved three or four thousand doing all the extra work myself.

Mine cost 19K, and that was pushing just clay. That 18K a feller quoted you might be about right! I'd sure worry about rock fractures if you're building in a holler, unless you got a lot of clay to push up a couple feet thick on all the rock... I've got some small 6" layers of iron/limestone and water slowly leaks through continuously... not enough to worry about draining the 30 million gallons it's storing, and waiting two years for it to fill back up.

Good luck gittin er done...

Rocky Fields · #7 04/10/07, 10:46 AM

Big Rockpile,

Trees would have to be cut, leaving about a 3-4 foot stump. You can push them over with a dozer blade, but the backhoe pulls the stump over easier.

I think I read in a previous post you have a spring? If so, are you widening the spring pond?

Without seeing, this sounds like something that would take you several months to do.

Ever use dynamite?;-)

RF

dirty · #8 04/10/07, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big rockpile

Very rocky,timber coverd.

Had one Guy tell me $18,000 one time.

from that description "rocky and timber covered" i say 18,000 sounds on the low side unless all he is doing is grubbing the surface.

do you know how much dirt you need moved?

dirty · #9 04/10/07, 11:12 AM

forgot to add: i'm with texican, 60 per hour can't be a big dozer. your going to have spots he's pushing 300+ feet going up grade. that's a long way to push.

fantasymaker · #10 04/10/07, 11:50 AM

Depends a lot on what your Dam is gonna look like.
.

uncle Will in In. · #11 04/10/07, 11:55 AM

Rocky, That sure would pay for a bunch of fishing trips to the big water where the spoonbills weight as much as a muck lake carp. I can smell the bacon and eggs a cookin on the bonfire right now.

Mike in Pa · #12 04/10/07, 12:29 PM

Man, you can't answer a question like that! WAY too many variables.

From the sounds of it, you will be on it. If so, you ain't experienced enough to make good time, due to the fact that you're asking... no offense ... just guessing.

Are there rocks? Is it cleared?

Biggest question ... If it's in a "holler" then you will have a combination of cut/fill. You could just dam it up. I'm guessing you have a water source... guessing you don't want stagnant water. Fish? What kind ... make it deep enough.

Lining it? Probably not. Clay at least?

Get a permit? E&S plan?

How big is the dozer? Planning on a lot of moving? Don't go light. This 60.00/hr is for a set size of dozer (unless it's a friend). 5 acres ... possibly long pushes. Go D8 if time is an issue ... more power, bigger blade, can rip if necessary. If go with JD 750, D4 etc., it could be too light.

Rocky Fields · #13 04/10/07, 12:30 PM

Uncle Will,

Right now, even a panfishing trip to Big Smith or Manitou sounds great. Mentioning eggs and bacon on the fire...maybe a little cornbread...and I'm already gone;-)

RF

big rockpile · #14 04/10/07, 12:44 PM

Well thats High $$ on a Dozer around here.I have a narrow spot I was going to have them Dam up.There is a Good spring running into it.

big rockpile

Rocky Fields · #15 04/10/07, 12:51 PM

Big Rockpile,

Maybe prep a small area, rent the dozer and do a part to see how it's gonna go?

RF

Mike in Pa · #16 04/10/07, 12:51 PM

"have them dam up" ... well now you're talkin'!

If "they" are going to do it ... then "they" should give you some sort of an estimate. Also, If you're just going to "fill in a narrow holler" ... that shouldn't be too painful. Flood the timber and rocks for good structure for the fish. The middle will give good depth in summer for certain species.

Just don't cheat on the dam ... you could end up in a heap of trouble down the road if it gives out.

Good luck.

Sand Flat Bob · #17 04/10/07, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big rockpile

Very rocky,timber coverd.

Had one Guy tell me $18,000 one time.I just felt that was way high.

big rockpile

Depends on how deep you want it. A neighbor had one dug about 30 feet deep, about 5 acres last year. I knew the guy doing the earthwork, he said that just his diesel fuel bill for that job was over $15,000. I don't know what he billed the owner for the total cost. This was no rock, all clay.

Bob

rambler · #18 04/10/07, 08:06 PM

Think we aren't very clear - first message you wanted to dig out 5 acres. Last message you want to build a small dam to hold 5 acres of water behind it.

Digging the hole takes a lot of power, fuel, & time.

Building the dam takes a lot of paperwork & engineering to keep everyone safe.

Do your homework either way you go.....

--->Paul

e.alleg · #19 04/10/07, 09:46 PM

In many places any pond bigger than 5 million gallons needs special engineering considerations and permits. Better to make 2 ponds sometimes.

Ken Scharabok · #20 04/11/07, 05:14 AM

I doubt anywhere in the U.S. you would be permitted to make a water enclosure anywhere near this size without numerous permits and engineering studies.

Those downstream from your spring likely also have a say so during the permitting process as you would be denying them the water from the spring at least until the pond fills up, then the outflow may be reduced due to evaporation from the pond.

Without proper engineering you may just create a massive lawsuit waiting to happen if the dam breaks and millions of gallons of water are quickly released through the hollow.

The dam would require an engineered spillway to keep it from eroding out. Likely core drillings would have to be done to ensure it would not leak. Your soil may not even be suitable for a dam structure of that nature.

I suspect you will find this is way more of an understanding than you envision.