September 2005 I decided to clean out my pond. I called Paul Stroup (214) 356-7719
He came out and told me rather than clean out the old pond and risk killing the fish with the silt it will stir up. We should build a bigger pond behind this one and let the old one flow into the larger one. Then once the fish move to the new pond and the old one dries up we can clean it out. Then the old pond will act like a catch basin to stop all the silt and junk that floats down from the upper pasture from getting into the new pond and filling it up.
The Big Cat and scraper just before starting.
Old Pond (9/05)
Old Pond 3/06 Full to the Brim! Only 6 inches of rain filled it up!
Looking east at old pond and dock. Willows will go away, the drink more water than all my cows could in a year.
Small Elm Tree with tape around it will become an Island. Boise d Ark tree in background will become a haven for small fish.
Notice the green in the pasture. It's Weeds. They will be gone by the end of the page!
Old pond looking Southeast. Willows will go away.
South bank
South end note the muddy tracks. Cows sink to their belly's to get a drink.
See all the green!
Old Pond looking South. Pile of dirt in foreground will move to the edge of the water and make an island for the Dux n Geese!
Full Again! 3/06
Taped tree will be an island, Boise d' Ark in background will go. Most the bank you see will move out 50 or so feet.
Looking East from Bank of old pond. I've started dragging the banks out and putting them where the new dam will go.
Cleaning out the old banks, building an Island on the old pond for the Dux and Geese to get away from Dogs and Coyotes!
1st day starting to take shape.
New Southeast bank midday.
End of 1st Day Most the old bank is gone. New banks starting to grow.
Island left with tree.
Now one big pond and a beautiful Island! 3/06
Dukngoose Island!
Renamed Bug Island! I cut the sunroof section out of an old Beetle top and used the rest to make an unusual Island! There is an Elm growing out the top.
English Channel between the old dock and old bank.
Bulldozer used to clean out bottom and build up the banks. Then smooth them out!
Old pond looking East! New Island, Boise d' Ark in place, Old Willows gone.
Looking East New Pond
Steep Bank!
Hope it don't come a good Rain, yet!
DEEP!
A friend had me cut the sunroof out of an old top Clip.. What to do with the leftovers...Ummmm. Make it look like we buried a bug many years back!!
Welcome to Bug Island!
Can't wait till the tree is 2 ft. in diameter.
1/06 I added Dikes on each side so the Fence won't be in the water rusting away any more. I'll add a wood fence next.
I'm putting in Telephone poles across to the island.
So it won't be so far to walk around the whole pond when is it's full again.
Yes I drove the tractor up there. Scary !
Dock waiting for the water to rise, then I'll push it in.
I've cleaned up more around the edge. Dug it 6 inches deeper.
Added to the Duck Island!
Built up the banks, so when it fills up it will be a foot deeper!
Come on Rain! 2005 we had a total of less than 2 inches of rain all year!
3/06 It finally filled up. Only took two rains! One 2 inch and a 5 later! It's overflowing now. It's deeper than I expected. I guesstimated it would be about 3 ft. lower than the finished product!
While I had Paul's equipment here I ask him to build me a small pond in the Creek on my back 20 Acres. That way I can lock up the cows back there and let the grass grow a bit up front.
Creek runs from Right to Left.
Nice Triangle Pond. Should be about 15 ft. when full.
Paul added overflow pipe after this picture. To prevent the dam from blowing out when it gets full!
Looking West
Here it is after 2.5 inches of rain!