Dredging and Shoreline Restoration 101

Over time, ponds and lakes can fill in with dead vegetation, fish debris, organic sediments and silt.  An aging pond can become compacted with silt to the point of losing depth of several inches every couple of years depending on the slopes, drainage and runoff situations located nearby.  Dredging is the standard remediation, but that can be costly and damaging.  Unfortunately, doing nothing is not an option, because over time the pond can essentially strangle itself out of existence.  Since silt adds no nutritional value to the water or its inhabitants, it often has to be removed to improve the overall health of the pond or lake.  Because silt is the loosest of all soils, it rides waves and currents to the most convenient locations, which is usually not convenient for the pond or lake owner - but the properties of silt can be used to reestablish a shoreline with a dredging technique that causes considerably less disturbance to the ecosystem.

So what may be a better way to handle 'pond pudding' without the damaging effects of traditional dredging?

By using a pontoon boat and pump, the silt can be pumped away from the bottom (or its settlement points) and redistributed into a fabric bagging system.The textile tubes are anchored to a stable portion of the shoreline while they are being filled. This is a very cost effective way to contain and control two poor and potentially expensive situations at once: by increasing pond depth and clarity and also recreating lost shoreline...a more natural version of recycling! After sufficient depth has been reestablished and the textile tubes are full, they are graded with sand and/or soil to solidify the shoreline.  Because the silt is being reused and remains inside the tubes, there are no dumping fees usually associated with dredging and no large equipment disturbing plants, wildlife and nearby residents.  Sod is then laid over the top to give a fresh appearance and a cleaner edge to the pond or lake.  The result is a stable shoreline, a healthier, deeper pond and a beautifully natural view.