Ponds and bears?

[AussieGardener]

The only ponds I have ever created are less than 20' wide and have EPDM liners to hold the water. These were successful and very enjoyable for all the wildlife activity that they create.

This time, I am interested in knowing if I can construct a pond without the use of a liner, as I have been told by neighbours to expect to see bears enjoying the new feature very soon after it is completed. The time, we will have the space to build a pond that can be larger and deeper. The location this time is going to be in the Asheville area of North Carolina.

Has anyone had experience with this type of pond project? The ideal would be that you excavate down far enough and discover the profile there naturally holds water. If not, I believe it requires bringing in clay for a new layer, and compacting it in place. I guess that would escalate the cost pretty quickly. I am curious to see what others have learned, including results of a soil test if they've gone down that road.

One ace in my back pocket, so to speak, is that we have an elderly excavator operator in our neighborhood. I have already hired him to do demo, and along with very fair pricing, he was just super easy to work with. This could be the next project for him and his 50 HP machine.

 

[Meadowlark]

This time, I am interested in knowing if I can construct a pond without the use of a liner, as I have been told by neighbours to expect to see bears enjoying the new feature very soon after it is completed. .

Howdy @AussieGardener

Yes, absolutely you can build ponds without liners....I have 5 such ponds covering something like 8 acres with millions and millions of gallons of water. They don't leak. They don't wear out. They are impervious to most animal creatures...except beavers and otters.

The key is good clay. If your property has it, you are blessed with the finest building material for a pond that there is...all free for the taking.

I have built 6 ponds on this place... 5 of them with clay and 1 with a liner. Only the liner pond leaked and wore out after about 20 years but the clay ponds zero problems some for over 1/2 century.

I don't have bears...that I'm aware of...but do have many cows that frequent the ponds especially in hot summer. No problem with clay...huge problem with liners.

 

[Hound Heaven]

OH my I wish you the best of luck, sounds like clay is the way to go. We had a bear wander through the front yard recently but it didn't bother climbing the fence to get to the pond thankfully. They're so plentiful in your neck of the woods, be careful.
Waving from Oak Ridge TN.