Pond needs to be plugged?

wolffeathers · #1 04/14/12, 10:56 PM

Looking at real estate online and there was one that states "Pond established needs to be plugged".

Pardon my ignorance, but what does that mean? Anyone?

braggscowboy · #2 04/14/12, 11:02 PM

I would think that they mean the bank around the pond needs grass started and in their way of thinking, plugging with bermuda grass is the way to do it. Around here we use hay with seed in in and cover well with hay to stop from washing until grass starts. On the other hand there may be a breach somewhere that needs to be stopped with a dozer or backhoe?

Bearfootfarm · #3 04/15/12, 01:34 AM

It could also mean it needs Bentonite to seal it.

tinknal · #4 04/15/12, 08:09 AM

I have to agree with BFF here. The pond is in porous soil and needs a layer of bentonite to seal the bottom.

big rockpile · #5 04/15/12, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

It could also mean it needs Bentonite to seal it.

Thinking this and most don't use enough.It takes alot.

big rockpile

ronbre · #6 04/15/12, 08:49 AM

you can seal some ponds but turning some pigs loose in it for a short time, they'll work it and seal it..but if the pond is in really really porus soil it might be worthless and may require a liner to save it

poorboy · #7 04/15/12, 09:11 AM

A pond that i didn't plug til the grass got established on the bank and spillway..Know it all neighbor kept telling people it wouldn't hold water...

Welp! when the banks were covered with grass I "plugged" the pond ie, capped the drain pipe....Miracles of miracles it held water, told neighbor that jist cause he was used to telling windy's I wasn't..Sure had egg on 'is face...

Pony · #8 04/15/12, 09:15 AM

Not to hijack, but as long as we're talking ponds... Ours doesn't hold water up past a certain point. Is there a way to seal it without having to drain it off? Can't think of a way to get the water out in order to seal the bottom... Seems to me that, as soon as we pump out the water, it will seep right back in.

tinknal · #9 04/15/12, 10:05 AM

Pony, I would think that just sealing the portion that doesn't hold water should suffice.

francismilker · #10 04/15/12, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

Not to hijack, but as long as we're talking ponds... Ours doesn't hold water up past a certain point. Is there a way to seal it without having to drain it off? Can't think of a way to get the water out in order to seal the bottom... Seems to me that, as soon as we pump out the water, it will seep right back in.

Pony,
I've got one like this and it's caused due to a layer of rock up at the point it leaks is allowing water to leak out and surface down stream several hundred yards. It will fill up way beyond this point in elevation and leak back down to that point every single time we get a gully washer. It's a fairly new pond (3 years) so I'm hoping it will seal itself in time.

Pony · #11 04/15/12, 11:36 AM

Thanks, Tinknal & Francismilker. I guess we'll just keep an eye on the pond for now, see how it behaves over the next year; kind of get to know it better, as it were. We'll keep your suggestions in mind as the seasons pass.

We're going to introduce the geese down there this week. Should be interesting.

wolffeathers · #12 04/15/12, 12:08 PM

Sounds like an expensive project to line with bentonite.

Here's another question.. If it's lined to create less porous soil, how does the pond fill?

agmantoo · #13 04/15/12, 12:20 PM

I believe that is real estate language, it is like the word "issues" instead of "problems". The pond has issues. Needs plugging also does not necessarily mean that it will or can be plugged to stop leakage.

buffalocreek · #14 04/15/12, 12:40 PM

why not just email them and ask?

ryanthomas · #15 04/15/12, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

Not to hijack, but as long as we're talking ponds... Ours doesn't hold water up past a certain point. Is there a way to seal it without having to drain it off? Can't think of a way to get the water out in order to seal the bottom... Seems to me that, as soon as we pump out the water, it will seep right back in.

You can spread bentonite on it with water in it. It's not quite as effective as spreading it in an empty pond and tamping it good, but it helps.

Pony · #16 04/15/12, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanthomas

You can spread bentonite on it with water in it. It's not quite as effective as spreading it in an empty pond and tamping it good, but it helps.

Thanks.

Is it necessary to dredge the pond first to remove any biologicals that settled down?

texican · #17 04/15/12, 01:36 PM

The size does make a difference. A small pond, the size of a house, 'can' be sealed with bentonite. It'll be a lot of money and work, as bentonite isn't cheap, and it takes tons to do it right... unless you just have very small leakage area. I built an 8 acre pond/lake, and didn't pay much attention to some iron ore veins in the solid ground being dug out... weren't but a few inches thick, and not continuous.... two years later, when it filled up, I was shocked to see water leaking out 50' or so on the backside of the dam, on solid ground, water trickling through. Looked into bentonite, thinking I've got to seal this sucker up, or lose all my precious water. Found a dealer, shocked at the price, got one bag, and realized getting 12' down in the water, to those rock beds, and getting the stuff to 'stay' on the 45 degree slope was impossible. So I just live with the minute leakage... although it has slowed to almost nothing... thinking the mud from above the iron ore has slowly moved downslope, self sealing the leak. There's a 110 acre lake on the property next door, and my evaporation/leakage rates match their's almost exactly...

If you have a large pond, you'll quickly realize that it can cost more to seal it, if you have to do bentonite, than the pond cost. Spreading clay is a lot cheaper, if you have a source of clay on the place. Buying dump truck loads of pure clay is dirt cheap, compared to buying processed bentonite. Spreading it could be a bugger, unless you have a front end loader... or you'd have to hire someone to spread it too.

ryanthomas · #18 04/15/12, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

Thanks.

Is it necessary to dredge the pond first to remove any biologicals that settled down?

I didn't and it worked OK, but would probably work better if you did.

wolffeathers · #19 04/16/12, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buffalocreek

why not just email them and ask?

I will if we decide to show real interest in the property. Right now just browsing websites.

Thanks everyone. It's a small pond from the overhead view about the diameter of the single-wide, if not a tad larger.

I've just never heard the term plugging a pond before. Sounded expensive and it turns out there is a good possibility it may be; if it means sealing the pond in this case.