5 Things to Know BEFORE You Dig a Farm Pond!

How to dig a farm fish pond Episode 167

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We are five years into a seven year effort of transforming 20 acres of "Piney Grove" in Northwest Florida into our dream homestead/mini farm to be filled with animals and joy. We plan to have a variety of miniature critters on our pastures, raise free-range chickens, grow fish in our pond, garden organically, plant fruit and nut trees, and harvest wild game. Our goal is to escape the stresses of corporate life and embrace all that country living has to offer as we enter the next chapter of our lives. Follow along on our journey!

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[PineyGroveHomestead]

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[beyondthebounce]

lol i just could not imagine thinking let me go ask big brother if i can dig a hole on my property out in the middle of no where. lol

[anthonylandrum]

Thanks for honestly sharing your build experience

[Arc-]

Thanks for posting! Here is what I learned...

1. Do you need a permit?
2. Do environmental survey
3. determine soil type via core sample
4. where does the water come from? plan for and identify runoff and rainfall/well
5. determine budget and include costs for culverts, drain pipes, dock, fill dirt, and maint

Thanks again

[battle-techs]

The most informative pre pond build video I've seen so far. Thank you very much for the foresight. I'm about to leave the city life for 5 acres in Virginia.

[carmenmariacortesmarin]

That sure will help lots of people searching for land and wishing to have a pond.

You addressed points I hadn't seen in other channels. Good things to consider keeping in mind.

I do hope your pond's issues gets resolved, at least in most parts. It's beautiful and relaxing to look at.

[accidentalhomestead]

I looked into a natural pond and went with a rpe lined pond-low rain fall here and i have a hose running 24/7 at about a gallon per minute. It has been an issue covering up the edges with an overpayment, dirt and getting grass to grow. It’s more about protecting the liner under some dirt and roots. My fish are doing well, much help from an aerator. No permits with the county.

[generalnewsense]

Thanks for sharing, that was insightful and very helpful 🤗 I appreciate 😇

[haroldgreen]

I"ll give my experience. Upper texas coast. I cleared an acre and a half of trees using an old back hoe. Then I purchased an old dozer, small and had to rebuild the tracks. I dug down as far as the dozer could handle. I went through top soil, soft clay and eventually hard gray clay that the dozer couldn't dig without tilting the blade hard to one side to cut into it. The land sloped some so I pushed the soil out and built a berm around the pond. One foot or so above grade on one side and four or five foot above grade on the lower side. The berm sloped in slightly so all rain ran into the pond that ended up being at least an acre and a quarter. Depth ended up being 14' at the deepest middle of the pond. The banks sloped in so it looks really big full of water and smaller as the water goes down. I put in lots of structure. Some of the hardwood trees I removed I kept the stumps and turning them upside down buried them in the bottom of the lake making trees with the roots on the top for structure. For catfish I took two five gallon buckets and tywrapped the open sides together and then burying them in the banks five or more feet down with a large hole cut in the outside bucket bottom. I get catfish spawns every year. I keep an aerator going out in the bottom of the deepest part of the pond and I hand drilled a 25' well that runs 24/7 pumping perhaps four gallons a minute into the pond. Not enough to keep it filled but enough to slow evaporation down. I built a nice pier out into the pond with power for lights and the pumps along with water from my home well. Once dug I traded the dozer and old backhoe in on a newer backhoe that I find the most important piece of equipment around the farm. As soon as I dug the pond we had a rain that filled it to the top within weeks of me completing it. Surprised me. Next I went to a nearby lake and using a minnow trap caught a couple of hundred red fin shiners. I released them into the lake and no fish. Within one summer I had thousands of shiners in the pond and then I added catfish and bluegills. I would say the pier and power at the pond are the best features of it. I can sit out there with a fan if I want or lights to enjoy being out on summer evenings. I figure that most of the cost of the pond was for diesel for running the equipment. I did get an estimate before starting and the company wanted $30K (14 years ago) to clear and dig the pond so doing it myself was far cheaper. Someone I knew told me he had dug his own and bought an old dozer and then sold it later so that's likely the lowest cost way to dig a pond.

[PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Great tips! So many variables in having a nice pond in the end. This will be a great resource for everyone planning their dig!

[juanmartinezmbapmppmiacp]

Fingers crossed for a full pond for you guys.

[Mammothbaron]

If you throw out old hay into the water and some bentonite, or use some of you native red clay, you can create what is known as “glay”. It’s basically what a blue clay is. It’s carbon and clay and water has a very hard time getting through. Keep stirring up the clays add clay when you able to, also throw in all your old leaves. Get as much clay and carbon in the pond and it will seal up real nice for cheap.

[richardmiller]

surrounded by all those marvelous beautiful trees

[audrybella]

Not sure of the laws in Florida where you are but in our state zoning has nothing to do with whether or not you need a permit to dig a pond. Our property is zoned AG5 but regardless our state / county laws dictate a permit is required if you exceed 1.1 acres in surface area (believe this is actually a state law). Additionally, in our state what you are actually getting permitted for is legally defined as "soil disturbance". Technically, our state does not issue permits to "dig a pond". Good video. Thanks for sharing. Hope you have reasonable success with the pond sealer. Haven't heard a lot of good about those types of products but every situation is different.

[aaronburford]

Viewed, Liked, Shared and Subscribed! Excellent content and video!

[codysipes]

Following. I’ve had the same problems you guys are having

[cutweldngrind]

My soil is Sandy Loam with small traces of clay which is not suitable for a pond build. I dug a small pond about 30ft in diameter and it filled with about 4ft of rain water. The pond dried out in under 1 week and then I added 3 inch's of clay to form a test seal. The pond filled again and water lasted about 3 months. I have 3 tons of sodium bentonite to put in a new pond but will need about 200 yards of clay to make an 8" clay liner. I really want a pond for wild life and eventually drill a water well.

The first pond had about 10 yards of clay that I hand dug and hauled out a yard at a time.

[Eric-gqgj]

I dug a pond too and it leaks. Lined it with 2 feet of blue clay too. Over the years tree roots and cattails open holes and the water follows and so do pests.

[waytoomuchtimeonmyhands]

Good luck with your pond and homestead. Love your brittany!

[aaronnava]

K as a person who did a small pond. Permit if the permit is needed. If you do a farm pond you need to know it's not a build and use immediately no matter how good you filter system is. Best thing is dig it. Use any clay you dig to pack it on the floor and walls use only round rocks any jaded ones on the shore and walls. Use gladed chicken wire to protect the plants on the shore and use flowing platforms to grow future plants. To clean the water. Don't add any fish for a while. Make one area into a watering area. Use a concrete platform that is deep enough to drink from but is fenced off from the pound. Think a sunken fence off deck. For water foul. Don't. Just don't. Make a creek that feeds a smaller pond.