Pond Dam Construction: Core Trenching and Clay Hauling - Pond Build Day 2

Core Trench Excavation

• 🥶 The day begins with frosty conditions, requiring windows to defrost before work can commence.
• 🚧 The primary task is to dig out more of the core trench for the pond dam.
• 💧 Groundwater begins to seep in, limiting the depth of the trench excavation to avoid flooding.
• ⛏️ The process involves cutting sections of the trench and then backfilling as needed.
• 💎 A significant amount of clay is discovered, which is a positive sign for the dam construction.

Material Sourcing and Hauling

• 🚜 A stump is removed from the trench area.
• 🏗️ Approximately half of the core trench is dug, reaching the desired blue gumboy clay.
• 🚚 Clay is then hauled to the slope to begin building up the dam structure.
• 🏠 Topsoil and sand are stripped from an area to access clay for the dam and potentially for a house foundation.
• 🧱 The excavated clay is described as similar to material used in a previous successful pond project.

Pond Dam Construction and Dredging

• 👷‍♂️ Clay is loaded and transported to start building the pond dam.
• 💧 The dam material is noted to be a bit mushy initially but is expected to firm up.
• ⚠️ There is a concern about a potential shortage of suitable dirt for the dam.
• 🧱 The focus shifts to using material from the core trench and banks to conserve clay.
• 🚩 A significant pit is dug, which will later be filled with excavated material.
• 🌊 The clay is described as hard and packing well, with some sections revealing gumbo clay.
• 🚧 The dam construction involves spreading and compacting lifts of clay.
• 🚜 Excavation begins from the bottom of the pond to source more material.
• ♻️ The goal is to expose usable clay from the pond bottom to avoid double-handling dirt.
• 🛢️ Mud is skimmed off the top of the pond bottom material to access the clay.
• 🛠️ The clay from the pond bottom is a mix of sandy and sticky material, intended for the upper layers of the dam.
• 🔄 The process of loading, dumping, and spreading helps to mix different types of clay together.
• 📈 The dam is being built up in lifts, with plans to use pond bottom material for the final layers.
• 🌅 Work concludes for the day as darkness falls, with a significant portion of the dam and pit completed.