Pond Build Day 6: Excavation Complete and Fine Grading Begins

Pond Excavation and Clay Hauling

• excavating a pond, the team is focused on moving clay to build up the dam.
• 🚚 Several truckloads of clay are being hauled from a hillside and a corner of the site to add approximately 18 inches of material to the dam's back edge.
• 💡 The presence of red clay on the surface suggests previous disturbance and added material, potentially explaining a hump in the area.
• 💧 Efforts are being made to use dry dirt for the dam to facilitate driving back and forth for seeding and straw application.

Dam Construction and Grading

• 🚧 The pond dam is being built up with clay, with a focus on achieving the necessary freeboard above the water level.
• 📉 The excavator operator is cutting down a high bank to create a more gradual slope and obtain additional dirt for the dam.
• 🚜 A dozer is used to knock down and check the grade of the dam after clay lifts are added, ensuring it's packed in.
• 🛠️ The team is working to tie the dam into the hillside and finish the core trench to prevent leaks, especially through sandy areas.

Stump Removal and Fish Habitat

• 🌳 A large stump is being removed from the woods using the excavator, a challenging task due to soft, wet ground.
• 🌊 The stump is maneuvered into a deep hole in the pond to serve as fish habitat.
• 🎣 Additional dirt piles are being added to the pond for further fish habitat.

Finalizing the Pond and Site Work

• ✅ The pond dam is completed with all necessary dirt moved into place and the slope packed down.
• 🛻 Topsoil is being spread over the dam and surrounding areas.
• 🚧 The borrow pit is filled in, and the corner is rounded off.
• ⏳ The project is slightly longer than initially estimated, with the pond ending up larger than anticipated.
• 🗓️ The next steps involve putting in the overflow, spreading remaining topsoil, and grading the edges before potential rain necessitates seeding and straw application.