Upgrading My Old Pond

My pond was looking a little worst for wear.

No one felt like doing up-keep. Plus, this area is our pet graveyard. Untold beloved pets are interred in the bare area.

The main pond area is being dismantled. I will be recovering the old pond area as lawn. I will also be reusing the red tiles for the new pond. The back wall will be untouched during the construction.

All the stones will be reused.

Skimmer is removed. My property is all sand so digging is not a problem.

Ducks are happy. I was able to use some sod to plant at the base of the wall

Old waterfall pipe has being dug up. Old electric post removed, old water pipe removed.

Demolition of existing waterfall is underway.

At first, i was going to go with a long pond and a short waterfall.

Smaller pond and longer "stream"

Just started the lower retaining wall. Reusing the red tiles. Old skimmer box in place. Rebuilt the upper retaining wall.

All dry built stone walls on red bricks to prevent sinking into sandy ground. It also allows me to put top soil down without burying the first row of stone.

Just starting the retaining wall for the drop-off into the pool. More retaining wall built. Waterfall pipe is waiting for the additional length to get to the waterfall box.

Outline of the pond is done and level. Back retaining wall for the stream is next.

Grass seed put down. Lawn chairs installed to prevent dogs from "helping" me dig the pond.

Toyed with the idea of putting lights on the wall. Preferred a clean look on the top of the wall. I might put lights in the water.

I used old carpet underlay. Thanks Eileen for picking it up from someones trash.

You can see the pond liner folded on the wall. I had to use two 10-ft x 15-ft pond skins® EPDM Pond Liners. They are very strong and thick.

Also put some stones down. Waterfall pipe is connected., just not buried yet.

Buried the waterfall pipe and sank a beer. Also finished the upper retaining wall.

Carpet underlay installed.

I Folded back the upper liner so the lower liner could be tucked underneath it.

Tucked under the upper liner. Some stones put down. I built a fish hide at the bottom of the stream retaining wall. I had all my fish eaten out of the old pond many times before by storks and ducks. Long story...

Had to scout around everywhere for stones.

I also built the stone lip. Finished the stone wall.

Detail view of the stone edge and retaining wall. Thanks for the Turtle Cindy!

There was water loss. I had to lift the liner in this area and rebuild the walls on each side to the waterfall box.

Water was too cloudy from the river gravel. I also had to drop the water level to use the pond expansion foam to keep the rocks in place.

Toyed with the idea of pouring concrete in a form on the top. Couldn't think of a way to frame the inside of the wall for the forms. Plan "B", take a template of the top and precast 5 sections.