Anybody digging out their ponds in this drought?

[KJQ6945]

My little pond finally dried up last week. I’ve been cleaning it out the past two weekends, will probably bring in a little excavator here in the next couple of weeks.

It used to hold fish, I’ve been told, but I think the sugar sand washing down the hill filled it in pretty good.

Last July.

This July

Today

Axxe, did you get that bulldozer yet?

 

[Sam7sf]

Was that a bass that jumped in the second and third picture? Nice. Looking good. Texas heat heals all.

 

[skfullgun]

Had mine dug out last September. I suppose I should’ve waited. In the last 10 1/2 months I’ve had less than 20 inches of rain.

 

[Vaquero]

I need to.
Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[baboon]

Lake Limestone looks totally like shit. It's 4 foot lower then peak. Really glad I'm not waterfront with a boat.

 

[oldag]

Ouch.

 

[KJQ6945]

Still digging away. I got the main part of the pond down to 6+ foot with the tractor. Solid clay now.

Took this week off, rented an excavator and chipping away at it. At about 10’ I’m hitting ground water. The holes are all filling up with water over night.

For perspective, I’m standing at the waterline, and the machine is about 8 foot tall.

 

[KJQ6945]

And finally got rid of my damned crepe myrtle! Bonus!

 

[baboon]

And finally got rid of my damned crepe myrtle! Bonus! View attachment 339576

I hate Crape Mertyles too. After 20 years of triming them i let the ones on the easement go. In no time they were ing the phones lines.

I have 3 of them here and though bought having them yank many a time.

 

[Vaquero]

Still digging away. I got the main part of the pond down to 6+ foot with the tractor. Solid clay now.

View attachment 339571
Took this week off, rented an excavator and chipping away at it. At about 10’ I’m hitting ground water. The holes are all filling up with water over night.

View attachment 339573

For perspective, I’m standing at the waterline, and the machine is about 8 foot tall.

If water comes up from the ground, it will seep into the ground.
I'd suggest sealing that back up with clay.

 

[TheDan]

I should have, but was busy with other things. It probably has water now after yesterday and today. I don't mind if the rain keeps thwarting my plans to dig it out

 

[Sasquatch]

Our neighborhood is utilizing the drought to do maintenance on our big lake. ITs pissed off a lot of the residents, but it needs done badly. They drained the lake 4' below what the natural water loss was - its down almost 6 feet now. But they're taking the time to repair the piers, they'll be fixing / replacing the aerators, and doing some of the repair work the dam requires.

 

[KJQ6945]

If water comes up from the ground, it will seep into the ground.
I'd suggest sealing that back up with clay.

I was into nothing but clay before I brought the excavator in. At about 14’ deep I’m getting into shale, and the water comes gushing in, in a 20 year drought. This won’t go dry again in my lifetime.
The pond has been here 30+ years. The main reason it went dry was lack of volume, and evaporation. It only had about 4’ of depth left, after 30 years of filling in.

I’ve got 50% of it down to 10-16 foot. The remainder is over 6 foot, and I have one more day to dig before the monsoon starts. Wish me luck! Lol

 

[KJQ6945]

 

[baboon]

View attachment 339774

What did you do with all the dirt you removed, new & improved berm?

 

[Sam7sf]

View attachment 339774

You see that bass jump? Nice.

 

[EZ-E]

Looking good my brutha!!!!

Don't forget to leave some structure.

A couple humps, a couple deep holes, maybe a couple old logs standing up or lay them on top of each other.

 

[baboon]

Looking good my brutha!!!!

Don't forget to leave some structure.

A couple humps, a couple deep holes, maybe a couple old logs standing up or lay them on top of each other.

What about politicians in cement shoes?

 

[EZ-E]

What about politicians in cement shoes?

The more structure the better. Could make good fish food if you had a mote with piranhas

 

[KJQ6945]

I’ve got the structure covered. I dug a 10’ deep hole right whereI’m going to drop a couple of sweet gums. My crepe myrtles stumps will be in there as well.
Im leavin a good size shallow sandbar for spawning as well.