re: Cost on digging pond myself vs. hiring someone

The easiest way is an eight wheel and a dirt bucket or two. Find a farmer who also does dirt work.

Started mine yesterday. Hired a guy to do it for me. Cost is $12,000 for 1.6 surface acres. He builds my house pad, shop pad, driveway, and dresses up my back yard leading to pond. Whatever dirt is left he keeps.

I got a ton of prices ranging from 12k to 60k for the same job. Went with the 12k since a friend knew the guy.

I know it's often done in Louisiana but when I went to take this approach 5 years ago, both the NCRS and the soil testing company said that soil that had enough clay to hold water had too much clay to pass a soil test for house construction and dirt that was good for a house pad didn't have enough clay to hold water in a pond.

Wether your pond holds water or not if you intend of putting fish in it I would consider putting a water well for aeration purposes. I would also consider having a soil sample done to see what type of soil you have to see if it should be used for building up a house foundation on and retaining water in the pond. You also have a few up sides to using a professional. Dig your pond, build up foundation for your house shop etc. a professional could also gradually slope the 3 acres to help keep your pond full. Also if you have enough dirt and want your pond bigger you could more than likely sell the dirt to the professional. Both of you would be winning. Good luck.