Pond Dredging at new house

[craigibc]

We purchased a new house on 8 acres with a 4 1/2 car garage and it also came with a pond. There is around 10 feet thick of reeds all around the edge of the pond. I am considering just renting a backhoe and dig them out but I know that this pond has not been maintained in a while.

Any advice on dredging the pond. I am typically a DIY guy but this one has me stumped.

Any advice on if I should DIY or should I hire a contractor for this job and what it might cost?

There is suppose to be fish and I do know there is a snapping turtle in the pond as well.

Thanks,

Craig

 

[Raymond Fast]

Depending on where you live and whether or not the pond is natural or man-made, you may need to get a permit before you do anything to it. You might want to look into that first.

 

[craigibc]

It is man made and was dug back in the 1960's.

Craig

 

[Rookie2]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=28315870

I worked for a guy that had to clean out a 2 million gal storm retention pond (100'x 200' x8' oval ) Had to drain it, let it dry somewhat and load muck with a 977 and a excavator for about a week and a half. A long reach excavator wasn't available for rent but that's the way to go but you trash your perimeter loading area .

 

[BgBmBoo]

We purchased a new house on 8 acres with a 4 1/2 car garage and it also came with a pond. There is around 10 feet thick of reeds all around the edge of the pond. I am considering just renting a backhoe and dig them out but I know that this pond has not been maintained in a while.

Any advice on dredging the pond. I am typically a DIY guy but this one has me stumped.

Why do you want to dig out the reeds? Or perhaps I should ask, why do you think you need to dig out the reeds? How deep is the pond?

 

[NKlamerus]

Do you have a tractor?

 

[craigibc]

The reeds will eventually take over the pond so hopefully we can pull them out before the entire pond turns into this:

1. We want to look at the pond and cannot see it since it is buried in the reeds.
2. We do not want the reeds to take over the entire pond.
3. With the reeds on the pond it will ruin the ice for skating in the winter.
4. I would like to stock the pond once it is cleaned up.

The center is 10ft and i would guess it is around 57ft x 100ft.

Craig

 

[craigibc]

Tractor? not yet but I can get access to one.

 

[NKlamerus]

We used to chain a floating log to the tractor and drag the reeds out, tore up the yard but it worked without heavy machinery

 

[BgBmBoo]

The reeds will eventually take over the pond so hopefully we can pull them out before the entire pond turns into this:

1. We want to look at the pond and cannot see it since it is buried in the reeds.
2. We do not want the reeds to take over the entire pond.
3. With the reeds on the pond it will ruin the ice for skating in the winter.
4. I would like to stock the pond once it is cleaned up.

Makes sense. I was just curious of the end goal. Are you open to chemical treatments? A backhoe would do it, but I don't know how long it will last. Unless you can remove every root and tuber, they will be back.

 

[theoldwizard1]

It is man made and was dug back in the 1960's.

In MI, any "body" of water comes under the jurisdiction of the DEQ, except maybe runoff ponds from parking lots.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Check this place out. Pond Boss - Renovating a Pond or Lake

 

[craigibc]

great idea! Heading over there now.

 

[LB-1911]

Some more reading for you -

Aquatic weeds are a common problem in ponds. Some weed growth may lead to greater fish production but extensive growth interferes with both fishing and swimming. The decay of weeds can use up the dissolved oxygen in the water and cause a fish kill during winter months. If you experience excessive aquatic plant growth in your pond, you can obtain a copy of DEC's publication entitled "Aquatic Plant Control in Your Pond." It provides useful information on the different methods used to control aquatic vegetation.

A helpful publication is "Fish Management in New York Ponds" (Bulletin 116) from the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University. You can obtain a copy by sending your request to the Distribution Center-GP, 7 Business and Technology Park, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850. There is a small fee. This publication may also be available from your local county cooperative extension office

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7975.html

Good Luck

 

[4Kings]

I used one of these to clear out pond lillies. Not sure how it might work on reed though.

http://www.weedrazers.com/weed-control/product/27-weed-razer-trade

 

[188slo50]

If it's been there for a long time that means that wildlife has adapted to it so more than likely the DEQ will have to put there input in. With that being said they may help with getting it cleaned up or they may say don't touch it either way I'd give them a call.

 

[bczygan]

This is another case, where a lot of research is in order, in two areas.

The first is in the actual means and methods to renovate and maintain the pond. What keeps the pond in environmental balance? What bottom conditions keep it from draining out or overfilling in wet conditions? Is the water level because of a clay bottom created by the pond digger, or is the water table responsible?

The second is the regulatory situation. This I would research anonymously. Never call in any regulatory body with questions. Only make contact if you have already determined the answers to ALL the question beforehand.

Consider that the pond is in environmental balance, having been left alone. Make changes slowly and carefully and minimally. Maybe finding a better point from which to view it, by constructing a deck or patio or even rooftop viewing platform, will help.

And looking at your one photo, I would only clear a small portion of the reeds in the center. Let the reeds on either side frame the picture.

Bill

 

[barks]

Glyphosate. Not Roundup because it has additives that harm fish.

 

[LXCam]

You could try renting a extendahoe but I'd suggest a gradeall with a bucket. You could rent one with a 50ft reach and keep yourself out of trouble. We went to build a road over the edge of the swamp in my neighbors back yard some years back. The guy running the D4 said he'd be fine. Several hours later we finally got him out with a D8, what a flipping mess that was.

http://gradall.com/

 

[jhelrey]

Weed whip with a hedge trimmer head on it

Doesn't take long to cut them down, then spray whatever you want on them to kill them off.

 

[WhiffySpark]

You want a long reach excavator not a gradall. Unless you've ran them before you're better off hiring someone. You will smack a truck with it if you aren't used to it. It's not the same as a regular excavator lol

 

[My Old Tools]

Roundup works great and does not hurt the fish. It just hasn't been tested and labeled for aquatic use. The only addative is soap.

 

[southalabama]

I'd hire a trackho and dump truck.

 

[Fixed]

Weed whip with a hedge trimmer head on it

Doesn't take long to cut them down, then spray whatever you want on them to kill them off.

I've worked a summer job where I did that. Put on the waders and go to town. Very long rake to pull them out afterwards.

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

 

[theoldwizard1]

Brush cutter like a Stihl Fs560.



Or a good HD string trimmer with a brush cutter head.

After you get them cut down to water level, buy a lake razor rake. It looks like a giant letter "Y". It is made out of stainless steel and the 2 arms are razor sharp. You tie a rope to the up right and then THROW THE THING IN THE LAKE ! Let it sink. Pull it in. Cuts weeds of at the base or just below.

Not too expensive, but VERY EFFECTIVE.

 

[432bullet]

41% glyphosate from farm supply.

 

[Berserk]

We purchased a new house on 8 acres with a 4 1/2 car garage and it also came with a pond. There is around 10 feet thick of reeds all around the edge of the pond. I am considering just renting a backhoe and dig them out but I know that this pond has not been maintained in a while.

Any advice on dredging the pond. I am typically a DIY guy but this one has me stumped.

Any advice on if I should DIY or should I hire a contractor for this job and what it might cost?

There is suppose to be fish and I do know there is a snapping turtle in the pond as well.

Thanks,

Craig

Reeds are a hassle for fishing but are a prime fish habitat . May I suggest you clear a small section and maybe put a small dock out there. It would be great to walk into the back yard in the evening and throw out a top water plug against those reeds and catch a nice bass.

 

[upndown]

Reeds are a hassle for fishing but are a prime fish habitat . May I suggest you clear a small section and maybe put a small dock out there. It would be great to walk into the back yard in the evening and throw out a top water plug against those reeds and catch a nice bass.

+1 put on some waders and weed wack the hell out of it. Little pier with a sitting deck. A kayak or paddle boat, and just enjoy the heck out of that beauty!

 

[four.cycle]

I think you're asking to open up a gigantic can of worms.
As mentioned already:

- If it's been a body of water and is inhabited by any form of aquatic life, odds are your State (or County) environmental agency knows of its existence.

- The last thing you want to do is pick up the phone and start asking a bunch of questions to your local permitting office or County of State environmental agency. They will be crawling up your ******* in short order.

There's an old saying among planners and engineers: "It's easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission."

Getting a permit to do any sort of work in or immediately near a body of water might entail years of legal red tape and a lot of money dealing with everybody from the local permitting office to the Army Corps of Engineers.

You could always do what well-to-do Californians do when they move up here and buy real estate: whatever the hell you want to, and then when the County shows up to write up the infractions just pay the fines and be done with it.
I've seen that happen here more times than I can count. Not a hell of a lot they can do after the fact other than fine you.

As to the glysophate/Round-up idea: the active ingredient in Round-up is glysophate, and it's one of the worst things you could get into a body of water like that. Bad enough spraying it on planting strips and gravel driveways. Don't be spraying it in your pond.

Just my lousy two cents, as always.

 

[69gp]

If you can try this.

Wait until late fall. If possible drain the pond down a foot or 2. Wait until the pond now freezes over and flood the pond again. The ice will rise up to stay on top. Any vegetation frozen in the ice will be pulled up. After the ice thaws remove all the vegetation floating on the surface. trust me it works

 

[craigibc]

Lots of great ideas thanks for your thoughts. I am definitely not doing anything right away just trying to learn as much as I can about the pond.

Thanks,

Craig

 

[finn]

Some bad advice here.

My neighbor up the road took the "ask for forgiveness " route on messing with wetlands a number of years ago.

He ended up selling the property in order to raise cash for the $35000 fine plus what it cost to remediate his wetlands destruction effort.

 

[craigibc]

No worries we will be careful and respectful or the property and the wildlife.

 

[Know Wosad]

The reeds will eventually take over the pond so hopefully we can pull them out before the entire pond turns into this:

1. We want to look at the pond and cannot see it since it is buried in the reeds.
2. We do not want the reeds to take over the entire pond.
3. With the reeds on the pond it will ruin the ice for skating in the winter.
4. I would like to stock the pond once it is cleaned up.

The center is 10ft and i would guess it is around 57ft x 100ft.

Craig

Call the states dept of inland fisheries. They'll steer you in the right direction. Cleaning, stocking referrals, access to state grown fry.
Yes. Even better information than available on here !

 

[four.cycle]

Some bad advice here.

My neighbor up the road took the "ask for forgiveness " route on messing with wetlands a number of years ago.

He ended up selling the property in order to raise cash for the $35000 fine plus what it cost to remediate his wetlands destruction effort.

Happens here quite frequently. Guy up in Ollala bought a 5-acre timbered parcel. Didn't want to go through the permitting process to get a cutting permit but wanted the land cleared to build his 9500 square foot house. Cut all the trees down, milled them on site and sold the cut lumber, paid the fine to the county and had change left over.
Maybe Washington State should raise the fines?

 

[My Old Tools]

I'm glad I don't live in a nanny state. In Texas we actually own our property, other than taxes of course.

 

[TTA89]

I'm from the government and I'm here to help!

 

[WhiffySpark]

Pond dredging is pretty common.

 

[dbabicky]

Find a guy with a Drag-Line and let him go to town. !!
Can your property /pond be seen from a major county road or busy road? If not, do what ever the hell you want.

 

[Zeke]

I used one of these to clear out pond lillies. Not sure how it might work on reed though.

http://www.weedrazers.com/weed-control/product/27-weed-razer-trade

I'm in to help if she's gonna be there...