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ferg

ferg

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I'm 'thinking' (a very dangerous event) - about digging a water hole - what are the chances that if I get the neighbor to bring his back ho down and just digs a large hole in the ground - in the woods - so it's protected by cover - that it will hold water?

I have a pretty good spot - there are two pretty major run off areas that hit the same spot just before they hit the creek -

Or will it just sink into the ground and make a big muddy hole ?

ferg....
 
Not an expert but I would think it would depend on the water table in that area and the clay content in the soil. If the area is already a low spot that holds water it will probably work as long as you dont dig through the clay and into a more porous soil layer.
 
I just did the exact same thing on my place. I dug a 25 ft radius about 7 feet deep. That labor day weekend rain we had filled the thing totally full. Has held water ever since. I'll post a picture of it. In about 4 days there were tracks covering it. Makes me think it was very needed.

Look for areas of run offs or wash outs across your trails. Dig at those spots.
 
doubledownranch said:
I just did the exact same thing on my place. I dug a 25 ft radius about 7 feet deep. That labor day weekend rain we had filled the thing totally full. Has held water ever since. I'll post a picture of it. In about 4 days there were tracks covering it. Makes me think it was very needed.

Look for areas of run offs or wash outs across your trails. Dig at those spots.
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I have two one on each side of the ridge that run down to a funnel just before they reach the creek - I'm hope that will work :)

Nearest water is a pond my sister has on her property, but it was filled with fish long ago and is pretty nasty these days - not sure how much use it's getting :)
 
My dad built a pond on his farm and it wouldnt hold water at all. Oldtimer told him to fence his pigs in it for a while and let nature take care of it. Pond has held water for 10 years and still holding just a thought...
 
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Here is the final dig - turned out to be all clay so I'm hopeful - it should hold about 800-1000gals If my figures are right :)
 
Dude !!! That aint ALL clay ... thats chert !!! I had one done this summer with a dozer on a ridgetop. 6 way blade on the dozer and he tilted it and had fun doing the 'sit'N'spin thing.....then de brushed the edges. it is about 6" deep and is holding around 2-2.5 feet of water. it will work, just will take time.


Good luck ferg. If it holds, can I frog gigg it next summer ??? ;)
 
I love creating drinking holes! There's just something rewarding about revisiting the hole and seeing water with tracks all around it.

Water holes and ponds is about the only redeeming value clay soil has, and I have loads of it!

If the hole continues to drain, you might consider buying a couple bags of quickcrete and spread it in the deepest part. Don't worry about mixing it, the rain will do that for you.
 
Also, trees that have been uprooted and fallen can provide a poor-man's water hole. There is usually a nice crevice left behind that will hold water, especially if you take a shovel and dig a little bit.
 
FLIPPER said:
You can make ANY dug out hole hold water with a bag or ten of Bentonite.
Click to expand...
I checked the website of TSC and they don't have it but it did show at the co-op. Any idea of what a 50# cost? We made a bigger patio about a year ago and they dug dirt out of my back field and there's a hole but it doesn't hold water. It's in the field I'm going to put winter wheat this year and see what happens.
 
Yea not clay - I put plastic in it and that worked OK till it rained and water got behind it - and - drained - so I pulled all the liner out and I'm starting over with some dusting of quick krete and we'll see how that works out -
 

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