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First thing I'd get would be a land survey done by the USGS.

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The most difficult obstacle is having "permission" from the man to build it.  Good luck, I know quite a few people around me who have tried, but failed miserably.

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I don't have the 'man' issue.

How did they fail?
 

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I don't have the 'man' issue.

How did they fail?
 

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In some locales, there can be a fair amount of permit work needed (disturbing wetlands, etc.)



The hole is the easier part, making a  sound spillway and retention system is where it gets more involved.



Also, if it is wet now, it's going to be muddy as hell while you dig it.  



Then, you need to consider whether the pond will be what you expect-stagnant water is no fun.  Even if you have inflow, it may not really circulate things much.



It used to be that you could get the .gov to pay you to build one for fire control but that was several decades ago.

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You better make sure you don't have some regulatory hoops to jump through. Years ago, you could get away with it, but now is a different story. By creating a lake of that size, that is a lot of water that if the dam fails is going somewhere. If you impact an adjoining property owner, etc. you could be looking at a lot of legal trouble.



Doing it correctly so that it will last and not leak, etc. is not as easy as just pushing up dirt for a dam. I am in the business and I can't tell you how many people start out trying something like that and learn quickly they are in way over their heads. It then usually gets into a solution only your check book can save.

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The guy you hire is going to do the job much faster than you will be able to (unless you've operated heavy equipment before - I'm assuming you haven't).

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One thing to think about is the cost of renting a dozer vs hiring some guy with one to do it. The guy you hire is going to do the job much faster than you will be able to (unless you've operated heavy equipment before - I'm assuming you haven't). As you are just digging out, you're going to be spending some time leveling the dirt out around the area (you can't build up around the pond or no water will drain into it). Other things to think about - shape/depth of the pond. If you want to have fish in it, might want to leave one end shallow for the small fish to lurk in until they get bigger.

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Compaction of fill is CRITICAL.  As is how each lift (layer) is laid.  You need clay which isn't too sensitive, otherwise you will have piping issues if it dries out.



A bulldozer is used for clearing of trees etc.  The main tool for forming the basin and fill is a scraper.  Fill can be deposited in 6" lifts, followed by compaction with sheepsfoot with vibration.  This way, compaction planes are disrupted which could form piping planes.  



The spillway structure should be placed away from any fill embankment, heavily sodded with permanent grass.  If not practical, sufficient structure must be constructed to prevent erosion.  Size depends on watershed and rainfall rates.  



Do it right.  Failure of a dam in flooding conditions can open you to a lawsuit with an impoundment of this size.  

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What does it cost for about a 2 acre pond?


 

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There is no way to give you a decent number.



That is like asking, what does a house cost??



Location, type of material, depth, size of dam, overflow pipe, etc. etc. will all dictate the costs.

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Not near enough info. to give you one.

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This all sounds like a great way to get in over my head and end up with less than desirable results....

I'll see if I can find someone to do it for me.

How do you find someone who actually knows what they are doing?

I mean, there aren't many results for "pond digging" in the yellow pages.

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I need a pro.


 

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This all sounds like a great way to get in over my head and end up with less than desirable results....

I'll see if I can find someone to do it for me.

How do you find someone who actually knows what they are doing?

I mean, there aren't many results for "pond digging" in the yellow pages.

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This all sounds like a great way to get in over my head and end up with less than desirable results....

I'll see if I can find someone to do it for me.

How do you find someone who actually knows what they are doing?

I mean, there aren't many results for "pond digging" in the yellow pages.

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This all sounds like a great way to get in over my head and end up with less than desirable results....

I'll see if I can find someone to do it for me.

How do you find someone who actually knows what they are doing?

I mean, there aren't many results for "pond digging" in the yellow pages.

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In Mi., you would need a permit, especially since you have mentioned a small creek.





The dnr folks would be slathering at the opportunity to spot check your project.



Unless you are not visable from the road, I would not attempt.



Even if things work out, when they see silt in the creek a long ways downstrem, the will come to visit.

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Just got off the phone with a local guy, who knows exactly the spot I'm wanting to dig.

He's going out to take a look.

Where I am in AL, in BFE, we don't even have house codes.


 

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I purchased a house with an 1.5 acre pond. Its a pain in the ass. It turns into a swamp of weeds and algae and moss in the summer and the fish die and stink my yard up. Trying to keep this thing clean is gonna cost me a lot $$$$.  I am not sure how much it cost to create it but it only raises the property value 5k as far as any appraisals are concerned.

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<snip>

Where I am in AL, in BFE, we don't even have house codes.


 

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That may be, and I really don't want to piss on your parade, but local zoning authorities are way different than the State enviro folks, or the federal equivalent.



As with any venture, it's far better to know the risks beforehand than to get smacked around later.



The folks who regularly build such structures are fairly likely to know what hoops need jumping through.



Some of them won't have a clue, so talk to as many as you can.



I hope it works out, though.  I don't like fish but if I did I'd love to be able to catch them in my backyard, and then enjoy them for dinner.

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There is a very large creek running about 30 yards from the location, which makes a perfect place for overflow.  

Legal Requirements

Before you can build a pond in Alabama, there are three major legal considerations of which you must be aware. First, it is important to make sure you are not building on wetlands. Federal law protects wetlands and has very specific requirements regarding any kind of construction on such grounds. You would be ill-advised to attempt to build a pond on wetlands, as it requires multiple permits and constant monitoring and thus can quickly become cost-prohibitive. It is critical to make sure you are operating within the bounds of the law on that issue, as Alabama is home to a plethora of wetlands. Second, you must ensure that you have the proper space and materials to construct adequate runoff accommodations, as you will not be legally allowed to construct your pond otherwise. Finally, you must receive a permit from your local municipality even to start construction. Failure to do so can result in multiple fines.

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I need a pro.

Pond Construction
Permit Requirements

The owner must obtain any required permits before hiring a contractor. If wetlands are involved, a permit may be required from the Corps of Engineers (see Wetland Restrictions). Pond sites that involve a total of 5 or more acres of land disturbance during construction require a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. This permit requires that a Best Management Practices (BMP) plan be developed and implemented to control erosion during construction and also requires that the BMPs be monitored to ensure that they are working properly. Even if the site is smaller than 5 acres, the landowner and contractor should make a conscious effort to control erosion during construction. A simple way to do this is to perform no construction activities in the pool area until after the dam is near completion. This minimizes land disturbance and creates a basin to trap the sediment produced in the pool area. In all cases, vegetation should be established to control erosion as soon as possible after construction.

Tip to Remember

Construction work of the quality and standards desired will not result unless there is a clear understanding of all the requirements for the job between the owner and the contractor.

Site Surveys and Layout

Certain information for the potential pond site must be obtained through engineering surveys. At a minimum, information collected should include surveys for the proposed earthen dam location, emergency spillway location, and shoreline for the pond. Any soils investigation should be documented and referenced to the site survey. The information gathered from the field surveys will then be used by the designer to calculate the elevations and earthfill quantities associated with the construction of the dam. Just prior to construction, the site survey and design information is used to precisely lay out the earthen dam and emergency spillway for construction.
Hiring a Contractor

Unless you have the necessary equipment, you will need to hire a contractor to build the pond. A list of pond contractors can be obtained at your local NRCS office. You may wish to receive bids from several contractors to be sure you are getting the best quality job done at the lowest possible cost. It is always best to talk with others who have had ponds built. Ask for references from your prospective contractor before finally contracting your construction project.

Before contracting, have a set of plans and specifications prepared. The plans should show all elevations and dimensions of the dam and emergency spillway, the dimensions and extent of the cutoff trench and other areas requiring backfill, and the location, dimensions, and elevations of the principal spillway, bank contours, and other planned structures. The plan should also include a list of the quantity and kind of building materials required.

The specifications should give all the information not shown on the plans that is necessary to define what is to be done, prescribe how the work is to be done if such direction is required, specify the quality of material and workmanship required, and define the method of measurement and the unit of payment for the various items of work that constitute the whole job.

Construction work of the quality and standards desired will not result unless there is a clear understanding of all the requirements for the job between the owner and the contractor. For these reasons, good plans and specifications should be prepared for all ponds for which an owner awards a contract.

The local Soil and Water Conservation District, the NRCS, and private consultants (professional engineers) can assist in preparing the plans and specifications. These people can also provide assistance during the construction phase; however, the primary responsibility to ensure that the job is constructed according to plans and specifications is the owner's.
Construction Costs

The cost of constructing a pond can be highly variable. On a per-acre basis, small ponds are generally more expensive than larger ponds. Small ponds can easily range from $10,000 to $20,000 per acre or more, while larger ponds (10 acres or more) can range from $1,000 to $5,000 per acre or possibly even less for ideal sites. The largest single factor controlling the cost of constructing a pond is the amount of earthmoving required. Other costs such as clearing, site preparation, pipe, concrete, and seeding and mulching are often only incidental compared to the earthmoving cost.

The best way to contract the work of building the pond is to have individual unit prices and pre-agreed-upon costs for every item to be completed in the construction of the pond. Some pond owners elect to "lump sum" the job. That is, the contractor gives them one price for the entire completed job. This is fine unless changes in construction are required, in which case, modifications to the work are difficult to price. Some contractors may want to do all or portions of the work on an hourly basis. This could prove to be expensive since the pond owner has no control over the time required to do the work.

The cost of installing a pond can sometimes be cost-shared through government programs if the pond actually reduces downstream water pollution or is used as a source of water for livestock. Check with the local Soil and Water Conservation District Office and the NRCS for potential cost-share money.

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The main purpose is for fishing.

Tips for the Construction of Alabama Sportfish Ponds

Pond Construction

Ponds are much easier to manage when properly constructed. A prospective pond owner should contact a representative of the U.S.D.A., Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at a field office in their area. The NRCS can make recommendations regarding location, design, and proper construction. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System also has publications regarding pond construction.  The owner should also utilize a reputable contractor, (with references) that is familiar with design and construction of ponds which meet NRCS engineering specifications.

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How do you find someone who actually knows what they are doing?
I mean, there aren't many results for "pond digging" in the yellow pages.

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Check out http://www.pondboss.com
It's the ARFCOM of small fishing ponds, great bunch of guys.
They have a very active forum.