Pond restoration

We have 3 ponds in our yard, they were put in about 25 years ago. Our 2 level pond was just getting too overgrown with cattails and other pond plants. The top pond is no longer a pond, it's more of a wetland. The redo for that one will be done another time. The lower pond has about 30 goldfish in it. Since the plants are so overgrown the water level was getting too low for the fish to be happy, especially on hot days. So it was time to get to it. 

Day 1 -

The first item to be done was to remove the plants, the cattails were as thick as the ones in the upper pond.

We had garbage containers set up to fill with pond water and fish. We didn't want to shock the fish too much by putting them in water straight from the hose. So we filled the 3 cans with their own pond water.

then to remove the fish -

Looking for the last of the fish in the muck and rocks. It was a very messy job.

Finally free of muck, rocks and fish. 

The bowl shape in the bottom of the above picture is the kiddie pool that our original fish lived in all those years ago before our ponds were built. We had used it as a part of the foundation of the pond. I know that none of the fish are still alive from that original batch, but we have never bought new goldfish for this pond. The fish that are in it now are direct descendants of those fish we "rescued" from the pet store so many years ago.

Now to start adding the layers. Our last version of this pond only had two layers, it held up pretty well even after a springer spaniel leaped into it and ripped up some of the edges as he scurried to get back out. We decided to put 5 layers in this time. As my husband says that will really make it "Skookum" (this word means strong).

Here is the base layer -

The next layers would be out of the dark plastic that we have always used in our ponds.

5 layers thick -

We filled the pond first with the three cans of original pond water, then added the fishies.

After adding the original water, the fish and the rest with fresh water, the sides were folded over for the night. A long day, but a lot accomplished.

Day 2 -

putting on the frame and trimming the plastic liners. We added a few floating pond plants and are deciding if we should put any potted plants in later, since they can grow and really choke out the pond.

Feeding the fish this morning I was happy to see that they are all alive after being so disturbed. I think the key was keeping so much of their original water.

The floating piece of wood is for the two big frogs to lay on. They both survived the pond changeover. I should have taken a video of the capture of one of the frogs. He kept settling down in the muck to hide, but he was eventually found and was stored in the g. can with the fish and then poured back into the pond. 

our froggie with some sun patches shining on the net

The future plans for this pond will be putting benches to sit on in the planter that surrounds the pond. Then the areas between the benches will be replanted.

Big job, glad it's done!