Pond digging cost, advice

Though I can’t give you a cost estimate, not enough info, I’d recommend you contact the USDA-NRCS office, federal agency, for assistance in planning, designing and building a pond. “Free” service though you pay for it with your federal tax $. They will do a soil survey, if required, pond design, etc. They can provide some type of cost estimate for construction for whatever design they come up with. Here are there offices in the state LINK. Office in Denham Springs you would contact.

What are your plans for the pond - recreational fish pond? If so read this. LINK. My one major tip - build a pond with a drainage system so that can be drained for management and repairs when that time comes - and it will come.

The biggest variable is moving the dirt. An excavator can move a shite ton of dirt in a weekend and won’t cost you that much. However, 4000+CY (1/2acre x 5’ avg depth) of soil is almost 400 loads by the time you factor expansion. Where is it going? Fuel costs, labor costs, and # trucks required to keep the excavator working will depend mostly on round trip time.

Is the soil worth anything? You might get a couple dollars per yard or so from someone against the trucking to move it for you but probably not.

Is there something cool you could do the dirt? Like level your yard in other areas or build a berm somewhere to shoot guns into?

Used my dirt to build my drive and also a berm for my pistol range.