• The backhoe is considered one of the four workhorses relied upon when creating a dugout pond.backhoe image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
  
  Equipment for building large dugout ponds is basic and easy to rent. There are four primary pieces of industrial equipment that are used. The bulldozer, dump truck, backhoe and compactor are considered the workhorses of any excavation project and the same is true for a large dugout pond or lake. Before beginning your project, be sure to check local zoning laws.
  
  

Bulldozer

• The bulldozer is an industrial piece of equipment with a shield or plate attached to its front. This is used for large excavation and clearing projects. If a dugout pond site has a large number of trees, a bulldozer is the key piece of equipment needed for clearing. This paired up with a backhoe and dump truck can clear a large area of trees and debris in a very short time. Bulldozers are expensive to own but can be rented from most industrial suppliers. Classes on the use of a bulldozer are also provided by those renting industrial equipment.
  
  

Dump Truck

• Dump trucks are required for the removal of trees and other debris. A dump truck can also be used for the removal of excess soil and the delivery of other sediment such as clay should your pond require another layer of less permeable dirt. Dump trucks and operators can be rented from industrial suppliers. Licensing for a dump truck is also available but not recommended if this is the only project requiring its use.
  
  

Backhoe

• A backhoe has a large scoop used for excavation, clearing and digging. Paired with the bulldozer, this piece of equipment will be useful in early excavation. The backhoe scoop will be most utilized in breaking the ground and increasing the depression of your dugout pond. When creating the ground depression, large rocks may be encountered. Use the scoop of your backhoe for removing these and loading them in the back of your dump truck for removal.
  
  

Compactor

• An industrial compactor is used for compressing earth and removing air pockets. Some dugout pond sites consist of a large amount of sand which is not conducive for holding water. Sandy dugout ponds dry out rapidly and allow water to seep into the neighboring earth. These sites require an application of clay. Once the clay is delivered and the bulldozer is used for evenly distributing this, a compactor is required for packing down the earth and creating a lining which effectively holds water. These compactors are easy to rent and can be obtained at most industrial equipment rental places..
  
  

Training

• It is not safe to operate industrial equipment without training. Training necessary to operate industrial equipment such as bulldozers, backhoes, dump trucks, and compactors is available from most rental places. If your local industrial rental place does not offer training, ask them for the nearest location that does. If you are not comfortable, or your project timeline does not allot for this, you can contract these services out through almost any construction or landscaping company.