We had originally included a fish pond in
our initial land use plan for our 10 acres
of woods. When we finally had enough
money to pay for it we were able to hire
an equipment operator who worked with
excavators for a living. Joey, the brother
of a friend, agreed to dig our pond for us
and told me what type of equipment to
rent for the job.
I had a 10 ton Kabelco delivered for a
weekend and Joey used it to dig a 3
thousand square foot fish pond 12 feet
deep in about 6 hours. The area was a
squishy bog overgrown with tyty, sweet
bay and wild grape and thorn vines so
thick you could not penetrate the growth
without a machete or pruning shears.
our initial land use plan for our 10 acres
of woods. When we finally had enough
money to pay for it we were able to hire
an equipment operator who worked with
excavators for a living. Joey, the brother
of a friend, agreed to dig our pond for us
and told me what type of equipment to
rent for the job.
I had a 10 ton Kabelco delivered for a
weekend and Joey used it to dig a 3
thousand square foot fish pond 12 feet
deep in about 6 hours. The area was a
squishy bog overgrown with tyty, sweet
bay and wild grape and thorn vines so
thick you could not penetrate the growth
without a machete or pruning shears.
The pond is less than 100 feet from our
deck. This was our view from the deck
on the east side of the house while the
pond was being dug.
deck. This was our view from the deck
on the east side of the house while the
pond was being dug.
The new pond quickly began to fill as it was being fed from
water seeping from higher ground. Within a couple of
days it was over half filled.
water seeping from higher ground. Within a couple of
days it was over half filled.
Now we had to do something to stabilize the dirt
berm to prevent rain, wind and gravity from using
the berm to fill the pond up with soil again. We
"Googled" soil stabilizing mat and found a supplier
of rolls of matting made from wood fibers and thin
plastic netting which we rolled out on the berm.
berm to prevent rain, wind and gravity from using
the berm to fill the pond up with soil again. We
"Googled" soil stabilizing mat and found a supplier
of rolls of matting made from wood fibers and thin
plastic netting which we rolled out on the berm.
The matting was secured to the bank with large
plastic "thumb tack" devices about 6 inches long.
plastic "thumb tack" devices about 6 inches long.
Once the matting was in place, it was a matter of waiting and
watching as the pond continued to fill and the water to clear. The
first wild life to visit the pond was a snowy egret as we were rolling
out the matting. Since then we've watched from our deck as green
herons, blue herons, great blue herons, hooded mergansers, king
fishers, doves, and a host of other birds come to the pond to drink
or fish.
watching as the pond continued to fill and the water to clear. The
first wild life to visit the pond was a snowy egret as we were rolling
out the matting. Since then we've watched from our deck as green
herons, blue herons, great blue herons, hooded mergansers, king
fishers, doves, and a host of other birds come to the pond to drink
or fish.