A pond is a valuable asset for a farmer or landowner.
A well-constructed pond is a valuable asset to a farmer or suburban landowner. It can provide water for livestock, fishing opportunities, soil erosion control, fire protection and a scenic site for canoeing, swimming or relaxation. Ponds typically contain a variety of soil types and are prone to water loss by seepage. There are three natural methods of sealing your pond to keep water from draining into the soil. The one you choose will depend upon the availability of clay.
Instructions
1. Use tractor to compact the basin of the pond.
Mix water with the clay in the bottom of your pond area. Pulverize the area with a disk, then drive the tractor over the entire pond basin until the soil is well-compacted. Mix water with spare clay dug from the pond and spread in several 6-inch layers, compacting each layer with the tractor tires. Keep the compacted seal moist until rainwater fills the pond.
2. Spread bentonite evenly over pond basin
Alternatively, mix sodium bentonite, a natural clay, with porous soil. Bentonite swells to many times its dry size when it becomes wet to create an impermeable seal, and does not affect water or wildlife. Apply a layer of the mix evenly to the entire pond basin, including the sides, using a fertilizer spreader. Rainfall will swell the mix and make a watertight seal.
3. Livestock will compact their feces into the soil to make a seal.
Fence livestock such as goats, cows or pigs in your pond site if you do not have a clay base or access to bentonite. The animals' hooves will compact their feces into the soil after several weeks, effectively sealing the soil. The method is called "gleying" or "glueing," and has been used by farmers for centuries.
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