Pond dredging Project

[JeremyBX2200]

Hi all,
I have a 1/2 acre pond on my property that I have been working on (previous owners neglected it along with everything else). I am at the point where I would like to try and pull out all the muck on the bottom (along with what ever else is there) from the first 10-20 along the bank.

I have a BX2200 and was wondering if anyone had attempted something like this with either a 3pt landscape rake with an extension of some kind, or if someone has fabbed something up to hook to the FEL to reach out and pull out the muck on the bottom?

Project is in the brain storming phase right now.

I also have a small towable backhoe that I can use, but it's reach it pretty limited even if I put a wide non-toothed bucket on it.

 

[DustyRusty]

Get a 4 or 5 pronged grapple and throw it into the water to grab the weeds and use the tractor if you can't pull it out by hand. It will take a while to get all the weeds off the bottom of the pond. If you have the luxury of it being a self contained pond, you could pump it dry and then using your tractor scoop it out after it dries a bit. Winter is a good time to do these type of projects because it rains less and snow can be moved. If it is spring fed, then you might have to find a way to divert the spring water to another location while you work. Sometimes ponds like that are clay lined to keep the water in. Even if it is spring fed, possibly if you can get a friend at the fire house, they might give you a hand pumping it out. There are a lot of fire truck collectors and all you have to do is connect with one of them.
If you go for the grapple, don't buy a cheap one that will bend.

 

[JeremyBX2200]

Get a 4 or 5 pronged grapple and throw it into the water to grab the weeds and use the tractor if you can't pull it out by hand. It will take a while to get all the weeds off the bottom of the pond. If you have the luxury of it being a self contained pond, you could pump it dry and then using your tractor scoop it out after it dries a bit. Winter is a good time to do these type of projects because it rains less and snow can be moved. If it is spring fed, then you might have to find a way to divert the spring water to another location while you work. Sometimes ponds like that are clay lined to keep the water in. Even if it is spring fed, possibly if you can get a friend at the fire house, they might give you a hand pumping it out. There are a lot of fire truck collectors and all you have to do is connect with one of them.
If you go for the grapple, don't buy a cheap one that will bend.

Thanks for the info.

Draining it really isnt something I want to do since it is stocked with catfish, bass and bluegill.

As far as weeds, I don't have a big issue with that. I keep the edge pretty clean and added some grass carp a couple of years ago. My biggest concern is the muck on the bottom along with anything else that might be in it. I have found all kinds of "questionable" things around the property and while digging holes.......no bodies YET.

The first 5 feet of the pond is good. Has a gravel bottom. But after that 5 ft there is 6-12 inches of muck on top of the gravel.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Depending on how deep said muck is, the remaining muck past your reach will quickly take its place.

 

[JeremyBX2200]

Depending on how deep said muck is, the remaining muck past your reach will quickly take its place.

Thanks.....

Well that's not what I was hoping for.

I have been adding the enzyme stuff to the pond as well. The ones that are supposed to break down the organic waste.....Maybe I just need to be patient with it.

 

[Vlach7]

Keep us updated. What works best for you but in your situation, I'd get something that has the furthest reach like an excavator and go around the pond getting out what you can.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Thanks.....

Well that's not what I was hoping for.

I have been adding the enzyme stuff to the pond as well. The ones that are supposed to break down the organic waste.....Maybe I just need to be patient with it.

The muck is not likely to go anywhere. It's probably decades of sediment and organic waste that has built up. It's going to take removal to restore it if that is what the muck is.
While it ain't cheap, there are companies that use a vacuum of sorts that will pump the water back into the pond while depositing the sediment on the shore in permeable bags. There is also mechanical removal with long arm excavators. If you watch some videos, you can see it is a LOT of work.
I'm not trying to discourage you. Just seen a lot of it done on golf courses. It's a ton of man hours to do it right.

 

[JeremyBX2200]

The muck is not likely to go anywhere. It's probably decades of sediment and organic waste that has built up. It's going to take removal to restore it if that is what the muck is.
While it ain't cheap, there are companies that use a vacuum of sorts that will pump the water back into the pond while depositing the sediment on the shore in permeable bags. There is also mechanical removal with long arm excavators. If you watch some videos, you can see it is a LOT of work.
I'm not trying to discourage you. Just seen a lot of it done on golf courses. It's a ton of man hours to do it right.

Thanks for the input.

I may try some things if I can fab something up for not too much $$.

If it turns in to a high dollar project I might just learn to live with it.

I have been eyeing a 3pt landscape rake......this might be me trying to find a way to justify the purchase......

 

[DustyRusty]

Thanks for the input.

I may try some things if I can fab something up for not too much $$.

If it turns in to a high dollar project I might just learn to live with it.

I have been eyeing a 3pt landscape rake......this might be me trying to find a way to justify the purchase......

How well can your Kubota swim? Go for the grapple and keep the Kubota away from the water. If your tractor goes into the water, it will cost more to fix it than it would cost to have a professional come to clean out your pond.

 

[JimmyJazz]

Seems like a tall order for a tiny tractor. Give it a try. If you have a neighbor nearby with an excavator have them take a look . Also its possible to damage the clay liner that may have been installed long ago to seal the pond . If that's the case and your soil is rocky or sandy the existing water will leak out and you will have more trouble than bargained for. Good luck.

 

[Henro]

Hi all,
I have a 1/2 acre pond on my property that I have been working on (previous owners neglected it along with everything else). I am at the point where I would like to try and pull out all the muck on the bottom (along with what ever else is there) from the first 10-20 along the bank.

What’s the motivation? I have a similar issue in my smaller pond which if I’m lucky is an eighth of an acre.

As somebody mentioned above, you need to be careful, since if you disturb the pond bottom and cause a leak to happen you may regret what you did, that in hindsight, maybe, you didn’t have to do.

I don’t have any good ideas that I can share or use myself…wish I did.

 

[Speed25]

If you have access all the way around, I might try using a dirt scoop as a dredge. Attach straps or a chain to the front of it and pull it kinda diagonally across the pond? You'd have to play with the attachment height to keep it from digging in too much and becoming an anchor. No clue if this would actually work...

 

[AM28]

My pond is not quite as big as yours, but all I did was purchase a fairly cheap sludge pump, and got a free small boat off of Craigslist to use as a platform. I ran the discharge hose onto the banks of my pond, then just pumped the muck out onto the banks and let the water run back into the pond. I used my Kubota tractor to haul the muck off and rototill it into my garden. It was fairly quick, simple, and easy.