<a title=”Read part one of this pond renovation series here.” href=”/daily-commute/pond-renovation-part-1-determining-the-need.aspx?blogid=184″>Read part one of this pond renovation series here.</a>
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<a title=”Read Part two of this pond renovation series here.” href=”/daily-commute/pond-renovation-part-2-removing-trees-and-drain.aspx?blogid=184″>Read Part two of this pond renovation series here.</a> </p>
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<p> Day three of this pond renovation project began with the installation of the new plastic overflow pipe. This 8-inch diameter pipe is smooth and will flow more water than the old and larger diameter corrugated pipe system. Installing the pipe was as easy as dozing out a groove in the top of the dam at the correct elevation and angle, setting the pipe, and carefully packing it into place. A water-stopping collar was also installed around the pipe on the pond side of the dam.</p>
<p>It didn’t take too long after installing the pipe to get the new spillway grading completed and to spread topsoil over the dam’s surface. The topsoil will give the grass seed (soon to be planted) a fighting chance to produce a soil-holding stand of turf. I don’t know when I will get to it, but I will report on the grass planting when it happens.</p>
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<p>Now all we have to do is wait patiently for the renovated pond’s level to increase. It is moving up by inches per day at the moment, but it would come up rapidly with a single spring rainstorm.</p>
<p>I will report on constructing a new pond from scratch next week. Ironically, the new pond’s cost will be lower than the pond renovation, but it won’t be as tricky to accomplish.</p>
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<a href=”http://www.grit.com/biographies/oscar-h-will” target=_self>Hank Will</a>
<em> raises hair sheep, heritage cattle and many varieties of open-pollinated corn with his wife, Karen, on their rural Osage County, Kansas farm. His home life is a perfect complement to his professional life as editor in chief at GRIT and Capper’s Farmer magazines. Connect with him on </em>
<a title=Google+ href=”https://plus.google.com/u/0/117459637128204205101/posts” target=_blank rel=author>Google+</a>.</p>
<p>It didn’t take too long after installing the pipe to get the new spillway grading completed and to spread topsoil over the dam’s surface. The topsoil will give the grass seed (soon to be planted) a fighting chance to produce a soil-holding stand of turf. I don’t know when I will get to it, but I will report on the grass planting when it happens.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Now all we have to do is wait patiently for the renovated pond’s level to increase. It is moving up by inches per day at the moment, but it would come up rapidly with a single spring rainstorm.</p>
<p>I will report on constructing a new pond from scratch next week. Ironically, the new pond’s cost will be lower than the pond renovation, but it won’t be as tricky to accomplish.</p>
<p>
<hr />
</p>
<p>
<a href=”http://www.grit.com/biographies/oscar-h-will” target=_self>Hank Will</a>
<em> raises hair sheep, heritage cattle and many varieties of open-pollinated corn with his wife, Karen, on their rural Osage County, Kansas farm. His home life is a perfect complement to his professional life as editor in chief at GRIT and Capper’s Farmer magazines. Connect with him on </em>
<a title=Google+ href=”https://plus.google.com/u/0/117459637128204205101/posts” target=_blank rel=author>Google+</a>.</p>
