Does anyone on here happen to know a very general cost of digging a pond around 1 acre in size. I know there are many of variables but i'm just looking for a general idea. Land is relatively flat and clay if that helps. Also if anyone around southeast Alabama has any recommendations for someone who builds ponds that would be great. I know a coupole in there area who do, but I would like to hear about your personal experience. Thanks in advance.

You've got to figure up the dam size and how many cubic yards it might be to move.

Paging Lefthorn

Here is a good guide on building and management you might find useful . Make sure the soil will hold water at the depth you want it to be. We tried to make one years back in a area that always stayed wet. But came to find out after about 3 ft down the clay dissapeared and what was below wouldnt hold water.

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/...m-ponds-louisiana/mgmt-of-farm-ponds.pdf

I didn't have one built from scratch, but we bought a place last year that had to have most of the dam rebuilt. I can give you info on the guy that did the work for me, very concerned about quality...but it wasn't cheap.

Jason Crowley with C and C excavation. He is here in Dothan. Super nice guy and HONEST. pm me if you want his number.

We don’t do the construction side but i can tell you it is more expensive than you would think.

And to get a general price, still need more details.

10 to 15 thousand.

USDA and NRCS can offer technical assistance. Contact your local reps and ask questions.

Lengthy pond guide: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs144p2_030362.pdf

We just spent $30k on a 2 acre pond that was already dug out and had a damn. Needed 40 loads of clay brought in. We also got all kinds of bells and whistles added.

yep, I dropped more than that, had to have almost 50 loads and we added 24inch drains through the dam..the track hoe and dozer work alone was almost $10k

I can tell you who NOT to use, just pm me if interested. If you dont have to bring any clay in, look for 15-20k.

Good advice. NRCS will come out and do a survey and draw up a plan for you. That'll give you an estimate on yardage needing to be moved.

I always just try to break things down into things I can figure out. 1 acre equals 1,600 cy per vertical foot of excavation or embankment. If you want you pond 6’ deep in the middle and a constant slope around it, call it 3’ avg excavation. That’s +/- 4,800 cy to excavate. Now I don’t know the shape you want, but say your dam is 150’ long. That’s an additional 1,500 or so cy to cut and replace. Add some drain system dollars and you are in the ballpark for cost, not what someone will charge to build it for you.
Excavate 6,300 cy @ $3 = $19,000
Embankment 1,500 @ 3 = $4,500
Piping 100’ @ $50 = $5,000
So about $30K which jives with what is said above. Good luck!

Oh, and don't forget to weigh the risks of getting or not getting a permit. From what I understand they are cracking down on unpermitted ponds.