I would like to add a couple acre pond in Milam County. The challenge is the slightly loamy, super duper sandy soil.

Can anyone share what help from the state may be available?

How do I check the Landowner Incentive Program?
Does the Ag Extension or any other entities offer help in sighting,, design or whatever?

It's a bit overwhelming for this first timer!

Thanks for your brains
Fair Winds
'90

Reach out to the NRCS office in Milam County. They'll be the ones that might be able to help you. They were worthless to me in Robertson County but that had more to do about where exactly I'm located than the office.

Absolutely call the NRCS. They can give you info on the site and potential construction options, as well as potential cost share (don't get your hopes up). In the meantime, here's a great site to check out the capabilities of your soils.

https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

Not sure if totally relevant to you, but this guy in Alabama goes into all the ins and outs of creating his 5 acre pond.

https://youtube.com/@BamaBass?feature=shared

Contact Binion Bulldozing and/or Harris Land Conservation. They both build a ton of tanks in the area.

Someone recently told me Harris was about a year out though

Are you for or against high fences?

Small world. Binion built a half mile driveway for me. The man has talent.

a07nathanb said:

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Contact Binion Bulldozing and/or Harris Land Conservation. They both build a ton of tanks in the area.

Someone recently told me Harris was about a year out though

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I'm a low fence guy. High fence animals need time and attention that I cannot commit to. I'd be afraid of not treating the animals with the respect they deserve.

AgsMnn said:

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Are you for or against high fences?

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I'm just teasing based off a thread a few days ago.

What part of milam county?

I'm between Rockdale and Caldwell and while my top soil is super sandy, there is clay not very far down.

I am on a hill top and a lot of my sand has washed away over the years.

Also, my ponds hold water really well. I didn't build them so I am no help on construction.

Sealing soil that readily percolates water will need to be sealed with bentonite - Or a vinyl liner installed.

Liners are expensive.

Agree with advice to get NRCS advice to ensure the watershed is adequate for the pond size.

You do know that if you dig a pond and it stops raining all your neighbors will say you are to blame!!

CR 335. Just a few miles NE of Rockdale.

redaszag99 said:

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What part of milam county?

I'm between Rockdale and Caldwell and while my top soil is super sandy, there is clay not very far down.

I am on a hill top and a lot of my sand has washed away over the years.

Also, my ponds hold water really well. I didn't build them so I am no help on construction.

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My rudimentary understanding is that I need a liner or a ton of bentonite. Will the pigs poke holes in my liner? What is the life of a liner? Is bentonite better/cheaper than moving in a boatload of clay? (Like BamaBass)How does that impact my former watermelon field location versus damning my wet weather creek that has good elevation changes (10'+)? So many variables. All I know for sure is that I don't fully know what I don't know.

Animal Eight 84 said:

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Sealing soil that readily percolates water will need to be sealed with bentonite - Or a vinyl liner installed.

Liners are expensive.

Agree with advice to get NRCS advice to ensure the watershed is adequate for the pond size.

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JohnKing said:

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My rudimentary understanding is that I need a liner or a ton of bentonite. Will the pigs poke holes in my liner? What is the life of a liner? Is bentonite better/cheaper than moving in a boatload of clay? (Like BamaBass)How does that impact my former watermelon field location versus damning my wet weather creek that has good elevation changes (10'+)? So many variables. All I know for sure is that I don't fully know what I don't know.

Animal Eight 84 said:

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Sealing soil that readily percolates water will need to be sealed with bentonite - Or a vinyl liner installed.

Liners are expensive.

Agree with advice to get NRCS advice to ensure the watershed is adequate for the pond size.

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Call NRCS and get their advice. Also call some pond specialists like Lochbow to get basic info.

Dig and move clay if it's on your property is a great solution. Ballpark- Will cost about $200 hour ( dig , haul, spread) so about $5K for a one acre pond.
Buying clay and having it delivered will obviously cost more.

Efforts to 'seal' a pond are often unsuccessful. Do your due diligence as you are now doing and seek advice of local contractors/pond builders. Good Luck

Nrcs looked at my place in burleson. Took core samples and said it might hold water but they were 50/50.

I priced clay and I don't remember the price but it was reasonable.

Then I rented a dozer and decided to give it a try with what was there. With the plan being to get the clay if it didn't hold. Result was it holds great.

My surface appears very sandy but underneath there's an odd mix of sandy white clay. It looks really sandy but when you get it wet and squeeze it you can tell there's a lot of clay in it too.

You really need to look at some core samples to get a better guess of whats there before worrying about how to fix it.

JohnKing said:

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CR 335. Just a few miles NE of Rockdale.

redaszag99 said:

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What part of milam county?

I'm between Rockdale and Caldwell and while my top soil is super sandy, there is clay not very far down.

I am on a hill top and a lot of my sand has washed away over the years.

Also, my ponds hold water really well. I didn't build them so I am no help on construction.

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I am at the end of 327A

Did a tank with SCS(NRCS) back in the day. Came out and scouted around doing test bores and found perfect spot with clay down to 15' ( guv required depth). Started digging and started hitting sand at 13'. Instead of patching Sandy parts at 13' they instructed to make it 15' so sand bottom.
Lots of leaking and silting and four pallets of bentonite later and it started holding water again at 13'. Guv spec, over common sense, sheesh.

Contact Jim Wall at Advantage Excavation. He did my pond and did an incredible job. He's in BCS so pretty sure he does Milam County. He'll help you with location and tell you all the good, bad and ugly. And he'll be honest and tell you if a pond is feasible. He won't try to sell you a pond if it's not going to work for your property. 4jimwall at g mail dot com.

JohnKing said:

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CR 335. Just a few miles NE of Rockdale.

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I have a few generations of ancestors buried at the Sandy Creek cemetery. Know that area well.