Final Pond Dam Touches: Grading, Seeding Prep, and Fish Habitat

Pond Dam Preparation and Grading

• 🚜 Robert brought equipment including a dump truck, skid steer, ruckus rake, and a tractor with a grass seed spreader to work on the pond dam.
• 🚧 The speaker plans to use a 220 excavator to grab brush for a controlled burn and then finish grading the banks.
• 💨 A pile of cleared brush was set on fire to clear the area, with the intention of grading and spreading topsoil across the back of the dam.
• 🛠️ The ruckus rake will be used to prepare the dam for seeding and straw application.

Addressing Equipment and Material Issues

• 💧 A bucket of diesel fuel was contaminated with rainwater, hindering its use for starting the brush fire.
• 🛻 The speaker notes the dusty conditions, describing the ground as "baby powder" in some areas.
• 🕳️ The grading bucket on the excavator is not ideal for sorting brush but is being used due to the need for grading.

Outflow Pipe and Dissipator Pad Construction

• 🌊 A dissipator pad was constructed at the end of the outflow pipe using large stones to manage water discharge.
• 🚧 Challenges were encountered in digging and positioning the stones due to the ground's condition and the excavator's reach.
• 🧱 A long rock was placed to protect the pipe's edge and act as a small wall.

Fish Habitat and Structure

• 🐟 Hog slats were stacked on rocks in the pond to create fish habitat, as stabbing them into the mud proved unsuccessful.
• 🏗️ The stacked slats and pipes are intended to provide structure and prevent floating.
• ♻️ Concrete and rebar were intentionally placed in the pond to create additional fish habitat and dispose of the materials.

Final Grading and Seeding Readiness

• ✨ The speaker finished dressing up the pond edges and the head section, using the grading bucket to smooth and round off the areas.
• 🌾 The grass growth is noted as being strong, which is expected to help with erosion control.
• 🚧 The front face and top of the dam were bladed with a dozer, and the skid steer with the ruckus rake was used to get the area on grade for seeding and straw.
• 🚜 Robert switched to an open-cab D7 dozer to push material and fill a low spot, with plans to push topsoil back across the field.