The hydro-rake is a floating barge upon which a backhoe is mounted with a digging bucket or rake.

This method is frequently chosen as a method to remove nuisance aquatic vegetation, root structures, debris, and soft organic sediment on a smaller scale waterbody. So the excavated materials should be relocated far from the pond. For large ponds and lakes, a mechanical excavator is the best way to go.Īgain, once the dredging is finished, the sediments can settle back to the bottom of the pond, and much of the dredging benefits are lost. A mechanical excavator can remove soil and help regain the original depth of the pond.įor a small pond, hand excavation tools can be used. In this method, the pond should be drained completely and all aquatic life must either be relocated or killed off. Mechanical dredging is a very old solution for removing muck, weeds, sediment, and other harmful materials from your pond. Too much organic sludge build-up can produce a filthy odor Methods of Pond Dredging Mechanical Dredging There is likely a substance imbalance or build-up of waste causing the problem. If you find your pond water smelling unpleasant, the harmful byproducts that create when organic matter decomposes have reached a critical level. Such dirty water negatively affects the fish as well as the surrounding areas. When the water takes longer than usual to clear after a heavy rain, it’s a sure sign that the pond needs dredging. Brown pond water is a sign of low water depth in the pond Low Water Transparencyĭirty or murky water is another sign that the sediment at the bottom of the pond needs to be removed. The increased phosphate levels that are created when organic matter starts decaying will start a chain reaction of plant and algae growth that cannot be reversed by any other means effectively other than dredging.

When the entire pond starts to grow more weed, it’s time to dredge it. You can clearly see excessive aquatic weed growth in the shallow area. Emergent pond plants are a clear sign of shallow depth. If too many emergent pondweed growths are noticeable then it is a clear sign that the pond has lost its depth. If your pond needs dredging, then you will see the following signs – Excessive Weed Growth Are There Any Disadvantages of Dredging A Pond.

What is dredging?