How does one build a lake?

[capnamerca]

Let's assume a hypothetical for a second ... what if I had a large expanse of land, and a bulldozer. How would I go about building a lake big enough to swim in, keep fish, and build a dock on? I don't want to boat on it (maybe a tiny canoe), but I want it to retain water and be suitable for life.

It can't be as simple as digging a big-arsed hole ...

 

[Benson32]

its tremendously expensive from what i hear.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

I think you should post this onwww.armycorpsofengineers. com

 

[utexas_61]

Dig a big-arsed hole ... and let it rain.

 

[capnamerca]

let it rain? shiiit .... i MAKE it rain!

 

[po elvis]

be sure to rest on the 7th day.

 

[brntorng]

It needs to be located where there is a watershed to keep it filled. Rain alone without a drainage area is insufficient. Typically a small creek is dammed up. Yes, it takes a bulldozer and time. Then they're lined with clay to slow down the seepage. Pond management is a science. Sort of like keeping a very large aquarium. A balanced ecosystem needs to be established and maintained or it won't be successful. Plenty of aggys make a living doing it I suspect.

 

[UnBiased Horn]

yeah **** ain't easy and it is getting more and more expensive by the day.

 

[washparkhorn]

The Link -- the introductory links are very important -- site selection, mapping and soil.

 

[CleverNickname]

Two things:
(a) virtually every 640 ac block in (central) texas once used for ranching probably has a couple ponds dug into it. A good topo map will show this.
BUT
(b) there are also a lot of empty ponds that either never drained a big enough basin, or leak too much.

If you own some acreage, the local county ag extension office can send someone out to help you out. They will look around and help select a likely spot. And do some soil tests (you need clay, all sand won't work). From there it really is just getting some dirtwork done. Once the hole is dug you do eventually need to take into account overly heave rains (i.e. overflow that wont damage the structural integrity of your tank). Many people also put in a layer of special clay too seal it up. Its better to get it right the first time.

 

[The Peoples Elbow]

they should have everything you need for this at home depot

 

[EuroHorn]

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[Orange&White]

If you really set out to do this, you should use clay to line it.

If you contact the guy who runs the landfill in Creedmore, he would be happy to let you haul off as much clay as you need.

 

[Luke Duke]

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[LongIslandIceSIP]

My little brother and I built a pond as a summer project when we were kids. Big enough for fish, but not big enough for a canoe.

Dug a big *** hole with our friends, made cement mix, lined the bottom with cement and rocks, filled it up.

We had big *** koy, goldfish, frogs, and turtles.

Sure, it wasn't a lake, but we were kids.

 

[miguelito]

Just bury one of these bad boys:

 

[threesheets]

You can all thank miguelito for dropping the property valuie of HF with that post.

 

[po elvis]

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[hook'em_horns]

Get a pool

 

[miguelito]

What? Next you're gonna tell me that a fashionable blue tarp isn't a good way to add square footage to your house? I don't think so. Check out my bonus room:

 

[Tyler Durden]

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[TXSNOS]

Ask this guy.

 

[madscientist]

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[Thunderhoof]

Use this guy. I've known him for years. And yes, he's an aggie. He really knows his stuff.

www.totallakeman.com/index.htm

 

[judgroybeanbag]

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[ctrl+alt+del]

Invite Charlie Weis over and tie his shoes together.

 

[jcazes]

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[fishwhiz]

Sure dig a big hole and have a muddy lake or these guys show you how to build a lake the right way.
how to build a lake

 

[CaboWabo]

Post deleted by CaboWabo

 

[fratboy_legend]

I have experience in this area. If you want advice PM me.

where in texas is the site and how much acreage does it drain? are there any creeks / dry creeks? do you intend for it to be larger than 40 acres?