Custom Pond Construction Services by North Forty Ranch Construction

North Forty Ranch Construction (NFRC) specializes in bringing your vision of a serene and functional pond to life. Our experienced team designs and builds custom ponds for aesthetic beauty, water storage, wildlife enhancement, and more, with a commitment to quality and lasting results.

What Goes Into Creating A Pond?

Naturally, there is a TON of variables that determine the construction and success of building a pond. Large or small, shallow or deep? So let’s break it down to help get a basic understanding.

The Dirt….

What type of soil is present? Does/can it hold moisture? Will suitable dirt have to be trucked in and how much? This is an important factor and can determine the success or failure of your pond.

Size of Pond….

A customer may want a small pond that will allow for some fish and entertainment, maybe even a watering hole for livestock. Whereas a larger pond may encompass those as well but on a much larger scale such as a lake where swimming or watercraft can be used. What is the topography layout? Is the ground high and dry or low and wet? Are there natural swells or hills to help with the overall construction, etc.

Water Source…

Your pond’s water source is another extremely important aspect to consider. How will your pond be filled or kept filled? Will your pond be in line with a creek? Receive heavy runoff from rain? And you certainly don’t want a pond to become stagnant and overgrown with algae.

 Soils…..

Finally, we need to consider soils. For a pond to hold water, we have to have the right soil at depth and available to construct a dam. The ideal soil is heavy clay soil with good plasticity (meaning its very workable when damp). Other types of soils need to be stripped away before construction can begin, so this can certainly add to the costs.

Can I just dig a hole so I can collect water?

No! Unfortunately, ponds are not created effectively this way. Building a good pond involves planning, excavation and some soil testing. The type of soil, size, depth and intake is extremely important in these hot Texas summers. A small, relatively shallow pond in our Texas sun will evaporate with little rain and no runoff.Building larger ponds may involve removal of tree stumps and overflow prevention.

How Much Does Pond Construction Cost?

Let's begin with an easy to understand Example.

For our ideal pond, we’re going to construct a 1/4 acre pond, approximately 10-12’ deep, in a low lying area. We’ve determined that clay soils are available approximately 6”-8” below topsoil. With these conditions, we can generally estimate construction to be approximately 40 hrs of operation time (time utilized w/equipment running).

Cost for this pond would be $ 9,000.00 with a simple run-off type spillway (no culvert or rock added).

We hope this information has been helpful. We also hope that you will give us a call to discuss your specific details and allow us to provide a quote for your project.

Our Equipment: Powering Your Project with the Right Tools

At North Forty Ranch Construction (NFRC), we invest in reliable and high-performance equipment to ensure efficiency, precision, and exceptional results for your land development projects.

Our fleet includes:

115 HP Bulldozer: The Earthmoving Powerhouse

Our 115 HP bulldozer is a robust machine designed for heavy earthmoving tasks. Its powerful engine and sturdy blade allow us to efficiently tackle:

Land Clearing: Effectively pushing over and clearing trees, dense brush, and other vegetation to prepare your site for development.

Rough Grading and Leveling: Creating the initial contours and establishing a level base for building pads, roads, and other structures.

Earthmoving: Moving large volumes of soil, rock, and fill material across your property, essential for site preparation and pond construction.

Spreading Materials: Evenly distributing topsoil, gravel, or other materials as needed for your project.

Roadbed Preparation: Performing the initial grading and shaping required for road construction. See Our Land Clearing 101 to learn more about Road Construction

Benefits for Your Project:

The bulldozer's power and efficiency allow us to quickly and effectively prepare your land, saving you time and costs on large-scale earthmoving projects.

15 Ton Class Excavator: Versatility and Precision in Excavation

Our 15-ton class excavator is a versatile and powerful machine capable of a wide range of digging, lifting, and material handling tasks.

Its capabilities include:

Excavation: Digging foundations, basements, trenches for utilities, and the initial shaping for ponds.

Material Handling: Lifting and moving heavy materials such as pipes, culverts, and construction debris.

Grading and Shaping: Fine-tuning the contours of your land for proper drainage and aesthetic appeal.

Demolition: Safely and efficiently demolishing smaller structures as part of site preparation.

Rock Removal: Breaking up and removing large rocks and boulders from your project site.

Road Construction Support: Assisting with tasks like installing drainage structures and preparing the road base.

Benefits for Your Project:

The excavator's precision and power enable us to handle a variety of excavation and material handling needs with efficiency and accuracy, crucial for detailed site work and infrastructure development.

120 HP Skid Steer with Mulching Head: Efficient Vegetation Management

Our 120 HP skid steer equipped with a mulching head provides a highly effective solution for vegetation management.

This versatile machine can be used for:

Land Clearing: Quickly and efficiently mulch small to medium-sized trees, brush, and undergrowth, leaving behind a layer of beneficial mulch.

Forestry Mulching: Clearing overgrown areas, creating trails, and managing vegetation in wooded lots with minimal soil disturbance.

Right-of-Way Clearing: Maintaining clear paths for utilities, fence lines, and access roads.

Stump Grinding (depending on the mulching head): Some mulching heads can also grind down smaller stumps.

Brush and Debris Reduction: Reducing the volume of vegetation and creating a cleaner, safer environment.

Benefits for Your Project:

The skid steer with a mulching head offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to clear land and manage vegetation, reducing the need for hauling and burning in many cases. Its maneuverability allows us to work in tighter spaces and on varied terrain.

Pond Construction Questions

Does The Site / Area Provide Enough Water Run-Off To Support The Size Pond Or Lake Being Considered?

Surprisingly, Evaporation Takes A Toll On Small Or Shallow Ponds That Don't Have Enough Water Intake. — If there isn’t enough water run-off to support the size pond or lake, then there is the likelihood that the pond will not hold water throughout the year. In some cases, a high water table may be suitable for water supply. Ideally, a local spring feed is perfect.

Does The Site / Area Have The Proper Soils For Building A Pond Or Lake?

Soils play a huge role in pond / lake construction, and East Texas has a huge variety of soils! Even a 1 acre pond site can have 2-3 varying types of soils.This is where our expertise and experience comes in – knowing what soils can and cannot support the construction site, or offering an estimate for excavating enough bad soil (sand and sandy loam) to get to the good soil (clay) for construction.

What Is Involved In Site Preparation And Dam Construction?

A LOT! Proper dam construction must include a core or keyway. This is essentially a “trench” deeper than the lowest part of the pond and wide enough to hold back water and water pressure after construction. Obviously, depth and width vary, and knowing the proper size is important. Good clay soil is put back into the trench and lifts (6″-8″ layers) and compacted. Proper compaction is important to prevent (or lessen) pond seepage.

What Type Of Spillway Is Recommended?

This varies from site to site and based on many conditions. The simplest (and least expensive) is a run-off spillway built along the side of or around the dam. Our Biggest concern with this design is erosion. Another option is culverts. I’m not a big fan of this design due to them getting stopped up (unintentionally with debris or more often intentionally by beavers!) and then causing more damage to the dam areas. Also, there are several calculations to be considered for size and volume for heavy rains and run-off. One final design to mention is siphon tubes. These are well designed systems that are built into the dam during construction and, when properly working and maintained, can move a LOT of water. Not a bad design at all, but can be costly. We would love to share our expertise and advice with you. Please give us a call and an opportunity to bid your project.