farm pond needing repair

[Use Less]

We had someone look over our pond since the dike has some cuts that need repair. The contractor suggested that it looks like our neighbor, whose 1/5 of the pond's edge includes the outlet, has filled same enough that the pond is & stays dangerously high. They draw off for their grey water, so they need the pond. I'll try talking to them, but Lord knows if they'll agree to dig out the outlet. They are gone half the year the last few years, somewhere in their 70's. There doesn't seem to be another easy scenerio to fix & improve the dike w/all that water. If he says no, can we force them to fix the outflow? Can we be held harmless if we don't make $$ changes, and the pond fails? Can we force them to pay part of the cost of raising the dike, which might have to be with stone or big block? Who would I talk to to find out??

[plowjockey]

Can you put a spillway on top of part of the dike? How about digging up and putting a culvert pipe, under the area they filled in?

If you own 4/5 of the pond, I'd say you will probably, be responsible for most, if not all damage from a collapsed dike.

The first people I would talk to would be the neighbors. Maybe they don't realize there is a problem.

[TripleD]

My pond borders are joint with my mom. Its in our deed that we share equal responsability . If the pond thats about 3 acres needs any repairs we each have to pay 1/2..... I guess its all in the title work ?

[Bearfootfarm]

If he says no

If he says no, pump out enough water to put in your own overflow drain on YOUR 4/5ths of the property.

[fishhead]

It's easy to rig up a 4" siphon. I've done it many times on my fish farm. With just a 2-3' drop I could siphon 200-300 gal/minute and drop a 1/2 acre pond 2' overnight.