Recreation Ponds & Farm Pond Digging

Siting a Pond That Holds Water

A pond needs a watershed — enough ground above it to feed runoff into the basin — and soil that seals. Across southeast Ohio, the clay-heavy ground that makes gardening difficult is exactly what holds a pond well. Shale and sandstone near the surface can work if there's enough clay above them; porous fractured rock underneath will drain a pond no matter how deep you dig. We walk the site before any dirt moves and check the slope, the watershed, and the soil profile, so you don't pay to dig a hole that won't fill.

Digging, Shaping, and Planning the Spillway

We grade the banks in gentle slopes so kids, livestock, and mowers all have safe access, and grade the bottom to the depth you want. The spillway matters as much as the hole. Spring runoff sends more water into a pond in March than the rest of the year combined. We size the overflow from the start, wide and armored with stone, so excess water leaves without eroding what it's meant to protect.

Cleaning Out an Old, Silty Pond

Ponds fill in over time as runoff and bank erosion drop silt into the basin. We drain what's left, dig out the accumulated muck, reshape the banks, and restore the original depth. If the old spillway is undersized, we rebuild it to carry the water the pond was always supposed to hold.

Stock and Fishing Ponds

A pond built for fish needs more than water. We vary the depth so there are shallow shelves for forage species and deeper holes for game fish to hold through summer heat and winter ice, and we keep the perimeter clean and graded so you can fish every foot of the bank.

Where we work

We dig and clean out ponds across Washington County and the surrounding Ohio Valley, including Marietta and Caldwell. See our full service area to check if we reach your property.