Pond Excavation & Construction

What kind of pond do you need?

Ponds are built for different jobs, and the purpose shapes the design.

• Livestock ponds need dependable water through dry summers and a plan for how cattle will get to it.
• Fishing ponds benefit from varied depths, with shallow edges for habitat and deeper water where fish can get through hot summers and cold winters.
• Runoff and erosion control ponds catch water from slopes, fields or terraces before it cuts gullies or floods a driveway.
• Scenic ponds near a home are about shape, setting and banks that are easy to mow.

How we build a pond

1. Site selection

The right spot is where a dam can catch water from enough land to keep the pond full, without sitting in a creek’s floodplain. We walk the property with you and look at slope and drainage.

2. Soil check

A pond only holds water if the soil under it will seal. Clay-rich ground is common in this region, but we check before we dig rather than finding out after the first dry summer.

3. Clearing and topsoil

We clear trees and brush from the pond area and dam site, then strip and stockpile the topsoil to put back on the banks later.

4. Digging, the dam and compaction

We dig and shape the basin and build the dam in compacted layers on solid ground, so the dam holds and water can’t find an easy path through or under it.

5. Spillway and overflow

Every pond needs a safe way to shed storm water. We size and build the spillway for the land draining into the pond so heavy rains don’t erode or overtop the dam.

6. Finish grading and erosion control

We grade the banks, put topsoil back and add erosion control so grass can establish quickly.

Pond cleanouts and repairs

Older ponds fill with silt, lose depth and sometimes start leaking. We clean out built-up silt, reshape banks, and rebuild or repair dams so an old pond works again.

Permits and cost-share

Most farm and home ponds don’t need a state permit, but larger dams can. In Kansas, the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources oversees dams above certain sizes. In Missouri, the Department of Natural Resources’ dam safety program covers larger dams. County conservation districts in both states sometimes offer cost-share for livestock water and erosion control ponds. We’ll help you sort out what applies before work starts.

What affects the cost of a pond

Ponds are priced after a site visit. The biggest factors are the size and depth of the pond, how much clearing the site needs, the soil, any rock, the size of the dam and spillway, how far it is from our shop, and how easy it is for equipment to reach the site.

Pond FAQs

How big should my pond be?

It depends on what it’s for and how much land drains into the site. A pond that’s too big for its drainage can sit half empty in August. We’ll recommend a size after looking at your property.

Will my pond hold water?

That’s why we check the soil first. Choosing the right site and compacting the basin and dam properly are the biggest factors in a pond that holds water.

Can you fix my old pond?

Yes. We clean out silt, repair leaking dams and reshape banks.

Do you build ponds outside the Kansas City area?

Yes. We build ponds across eastern Kansas and western Missouri, including the towns listed below. For longer drives, we plan the job to finish in one trip.

Call (913) 912-3820 or contact us for a free pond estimate.

Pond Excavation Service Areas

Adrian, MO  ·  Baldwin City, KS  ·  Basehor, KS  ·  Burlingame, KS  ·  Butler, MO  ·  Colony, KS  ·  Concordia, MO  ·  Eudora, KS  ·  Garden City, MO  ·  Garnett, KS  ·  Harrisonville, MO  ·  Holden, MO  ·  Holt, MO  ·  Kearney, MO  ·  Lansing, KS  ·  Lawson, MO  ·  Lexington, MO  ·  Louisburg, KS  ·  Lyndon, KS  ·  Marshall, MO  ·  Odessa, MO  ·  Orrick, MO  ·  Osawatomie, KS  ·  Ottawa, KS  ·  Overbrook, KS  ·  Paola, KS  ·  Pleasant Hill, MO  ·  Rich Hill, MO  ·  Richmond, MO  ·  Sedalia, MO  ·  Smithville, MO  ·  Tonganoxie, KS  ·  Warrensburg, MO  ·  West of Olathe, KS