I am purchasing 2 1/2 acres of swamp for all practical purposes.I want to dig a 1/2 to 1 acre lake 7 foot deep to use the sand (this is south florida) to make high and dry ground on the rest of the property. I am trying to decide if I need an excavator or a large loader and a mud hog to pump out the water as I am sure it will start to fill the hole as soon as I make it I would think. I am just not sure how you would get a smooth bottom with an excavator.Any Ideas?
I think you need to ask local government what you can or cannot do,,
Take the advice on whether you need permits or even if you can disturb a wetland in your particular area. As far as a machine, an excavator can build it's own work pad if the ground is boggy and simply work backward off the pad, digging as deep as you want. A good operator can make the pond bottom just as smooth as you want it. From the description of the terrain, a rubber tired loader or even a traxcavator would be stuck all the time and a pond bottom with spin out holes from tires or tracks isn't going to be exactly smooth. The only advangage a Hydra Hoe has is it's extendable boom but it still can't reach across a one acre pond. A decent size excavator will do the job in half the time.
We did the same in the north east, with winter snowy weather. We have a flowing well that created a swamp. We hired a contractor with a Hydra Hoe. That rig should be able to stay far enough away from the swamp so it doesn't sink into the swamp. And if you are going to use the sand, you need to let is sit by the pond and drain, then haul it out. Make sure that is included in your bid. I don't think 7' will be deep enough. You'll have a pit for crocks and snakes and frogs and due to the shallow depth and heat in Fla. in several years it will be a swamp again. Go for something deeper and treat it with copper sulfate to control weeds, if allowed by law. Also, check to be sure you don't have cattails there because then you might not be allowed to disturb the area. In some states cattail's are protected wet lands, but maybe not in Fla. And check to see if permits are required because you don't want any big time fines. We love our pond, and the flowing well now feeds it with oxygen 24/7.
