How to Dig a Pond & Canal DIY Part 1

How to Build a DIY Pond

How to build a pond. First, you got to pick the location of where you want to build this pond. You want it to be the lowest point of the property. Most ponds and small man-made lakes, they were built in the lowest part. It was almost unusable property. This way, you're never going to have a problem with it staying full of water. If it's at a low point, you're going to have a high water table.

Most ponds are built because people needed dirt. And this is actually an addition to an existing pond. And you're going to see that here in a few minutes. We needed this dirt to build up around this corner pond as it's its bank. It would flood this farm, but this is where it would get into the property at the lowest point. So we're gonna put a road right on the property line and we're gonna use all this dirt that's coming out of this pond that we're digging. Again, there's probably, um, a four-acre pond here and we're gonna add another acre and a half to that.

When you go to dig a pond, you could rent this big equipment, have it delivered right to your property, and they'll pick it back up. Take some vacation time and don't be intimidated. You'll get the hang of it in no time. Matter of fact, you'll have a lot of fun running this big equipment. It does burn a lot of diesel, so be prepared to spend a couple of hundred dollars a day in diesel fuel. Easy. But this is a quick way for a DIYer to dig a pond.

It's so important that you do it after, say you want July to go by. You don't do it in late August. The reason why you want to do that, we have a drought season here in the North. We dry up mid-June, so by the end of August, that water table is really, really low. This is a great time to dig a pond. [...]

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[SuerteDelMolinoFarm]

Greetings from the LooseNatural farm in Andalusia Spain

[BOREDcentre]

You have a strangely endearing personality and really enjoy listening to you explain all of this! Also made it super easy to learn the do'ss and don'ts of Pond Creation!

[flubby]

I really hope that you continue this series. I recently built my home and I started watching your videos because my general recommended we install a french drain system. I realized the drains on my property were not installed correctly and fought with my general until the drainage company fixed the problems. Then 5 months later we had the worst flooding in 50 years and those drains were working overtime. I don't know how much money in repairs to my home or to the drainage system after I would have had it ripped out to fix you saved me. And now I am moving onto my next project which is sourcing a contractor to build a pond. I literally have no clue what I am looking for, what questions to ask or what to watch out for. I have so many questions like how can I ensure the water is clear and not end up like a mud pit? What depth should I be hitting at if I am not going to be using it for fishing? Should I seal the bottom if I lack clay? This series could not have come at a better time for me.

[shakejones]

thank you for sharing! most value information/knowledge!

[darkbulb]

Ah HELL yeah! THIS is how you get shit done!

[enricopallazzo]

So generally anyone can rent an excavator this big or do you need a construction company? My 50 hp John Deere and I are moving veeeery slowly on my pond project lol

[chuckyP]

I want to dig a pond in my back yard, I do live on a hill and there's a creek at the bottom. I wonder about stumps and connecting the creek

[jond]

What if the lowest point of my property is in a DEEP valley. I don’t own the entire valley and I’m pretty sure even if I did damming it would cause flooding issues for my neighbors. I only have 12 acres and don’t need a very big pond. Can it work or should I just abandon the idea?

[jameshack]

So no clay liner at the bottom of the pond? What's an estimate of the costs for doing this? Thanks

[pjydpoj]

how much did this project cost thanks

[nelsonsantos]

I have a case 1085C wheeled excavator, tires. Is there any incident it can tip on its side on flat ground?

[martincrabtree]

As if it were needed, more proof that Yanks just love to hear themselves talk.