Old rotted tree root tunnels turn into ground water conduits. I can verify that is true. We bought a house in 1999 that was built in 1962 on a hillside that had once been a wooded lot. Bought the house in the middle of the summer and did not see (at the time) any signs that water would be a problem in the "cellar" that was on the tall side of the house. First week of October we had a good rain and the cellar had 18" of water in it. Something akin to buyer's remorse set in but I was determined to figure out how to abate this nuisance. What followed was a 6 year project done entirely by myself to engineer and construct a drainage system BELOW the bottom of the house foundation footer that exited beneath the footer at the lowest corner into a 4" PVC drain pipe that ran down to the street level drainage ditch. Trench for pipe was 4 feet deep at the house and tapered to emerge at the street culvert for my driveway crossing. Once I had made a way for water to get out, I had to turn my attention to determining how the water was getting in. All previous attempts to identify the water ingress (before I switched to making the cellar drain system) points were inconclusive. I had already spent time diverting the gutter downspouts into drain tiles that emptied into the front yard, and that had not helped. I also noticed that the previous owner had caulked between the concrete patio and the concrete block foundation wall on the back of the house. I first thought that might have been for aesthetics to conceal the parting line between the foundation wall and the concrete patio, but after becoming aware of the seasonal water issue I was convinced they too were trying to stop the water. I finally had to accept that the water was actually traveling underground some distance to finally emerge in the cellar under the house and that it was not just simple roof runoff I was dealing with. So, I decided to expand the size of the "cellar" space under the house by excavating (by hand) into the untouched crawl space embankment on the back section under the house and digging down 18" deeper than the concrete floor of the original cellar area. As I dug a short section at a time I would add PVC drain piping connecting to my already operational drain pipe network. I kept my new 12" concrete block "basement walls" 2 feet away from the original 10" concrete block foundation walls and footers. To get the depth I wanted I also had to remove 6" of bedrock by hand using hammer drills and an electric pavement breaker. I "pinned" my new concrete block wall 10 " into the bedrock with #5 rebar and filled the block cells with concrete. My progress carried my excavating further into the hillside and eventually I was carving out a wall cut line that was 5 feet high. I would not expose more than a 4 foot long cut at a time while I followed the cut with my new basement wall. It was while I had one of those 4 foot cuts exposed that we had an exceptional spate of rain that I finally "got" how the water was coming in. All the while I had been excavating dirt, I had already noticed a fair amount of rotted tree roots of all sizes in the spoils. Now with the rains I saw water coming out of the cut wall in numerous places, and each place water was running out of was the remains of what was once a tree root. And........about 5 feet away from the back of the house in the back yard was a tree stump maybe 40" across. I had already constructed a circular above ground flower bed for my wife to conceal the stump from view. I figured that the original build site grading had damaged enough of the tree's roots, plus a major feeding and watering area for the tree was now covered over by the house that the tree died and later had to be removed by whoever was living there a few years after the house was built. All said and done, my basement expansion and drain system was a success and increased the usable space under the house by about 60%. And I can guarantee that if there is a tree root in the ground, it will carry water long after the tree is dead.

I rented a mini excavator, for the first time, to install my underground electric (550' of trench) and, man, you learn A LOT more doing rather than watching. I'd imagine most who watch this channel already know this stuff but, it's the little things that make the job. Like where you put the dirt so it's not in your way (i.e., having to move the dirt only once. lol), learning that an experienced operator can cut the job time in half... Then how different types of dirt behave differently, like having your trench collapse on you.. uggg. Oh, and then there's nothing like having a foot or so of water seep in the bottom of your trench (shout out to waterproof boots! 😂)

Mike, your explanation for digging the core was just what I needed so I could grasp the reason for doing it. Matt's fieldtrip through the trench really solidified the reason. The house looks really nice, and the soffit lights add another dimension to it.

You talking about Matt learning the controls reminds me of when I started at the golf course. In the beginning I had to use a lot of brain cycles just moving petals, etc. But after a while that becomes automatic and you can concentrate on what you are trying to do... mowing straight lines, dropping/raising at the right time, etc. I think it the same for most all equipment.

Just watching a video from the lake job last fall. I envy you guys! I didn’t know I would miss it so much! I miss the dirt smell! I loved moving dirt! Thank you for your videos, and be safe!

Thanks for explaining the purpose of the "Core Trench/Kewway" ... makes more sense now ... basically a deep Footer or "Dam beneath the Dam" ... also another reason to not like "Beavers" eh? ;) LOL Great job.

It finally clicked in my head about why the core trench is needed. I've thought about this a lot and it just didn't add up until today when he pulled the stick out and mentioned the "mole holes".

Great video and thanks for taking extra time to describe and show the core trench process.

"Go to your home"!!! Hells bells Matt, that crayfish doesn't have wings.

As a farmer, when you started this project with the first video, I thought, "What a waste of a beautiful field!" Just goes to show, sometimes it's all "lipstick and makeup!" Now, I wonder just how often the homeowner got his riding mower stuck - in all that really wet stuff - especially down by the road? I am now convinced, it's a better pond than a field! Thanks; Mike Jerry and Matt!

I was in the excavating Business for a few decades and built my share of ponds & lakes and I think you are doing an excellent job keep up the good work

One of the reasons why I subscribe is because you provide instruction as to why you are doing something and actually show us. There is a lot more to doing it right and having something last Long-term. This is the difference between a professional who works like it is their property versus your buddy's I got a guy with a dozer who's cheap.

Out there playing in the mud, still beats a day in the office, working for “the man”! Take care and keep up the great work.

Jerry has to be one of the best dozer operators I’ve ever seen great job jerry keep it up

Well the new pond is beginning to shape up, but not without it's problems . I believe that it will all work out, just takes time and a lot of work. So be careful and stay safe and keep on digging and pushing dirt . As always, Jeffrey !!!

I know Matt’s been around for awhile now, but he’s a good asset and for doing KZfaq along with the work, he’s more help than hurt! 💪🏽

Looking good for what you are working with. Great video Mike

Many many many moons ago when I was in my early teens, our family went to Lake Texoma (Oklahoma/Texas border) with our Grandparents for our summer vacation. While walking alone a rock shore, I saw something blue in the water. I assumed it was a fishing lure. Picked it up and turned out to be a crawdad/crawfish. A rare blue crawdad. Made the local news about the find. We made sure if it was ok to keep. Took it home and it lived in a fish tank for six years. He loved earth worms, snails, and crickets. He managed to escape the fish tank once. Somehow managed to make it downstairs into the basement. My Mom found him hiding in a pile of laundry two days after he disappeared. He had quite the personality. When we came home from school, he'd be at the front of the tank waiting for us. It was interesting watching him molt. It was a sad day when he died. But six years in a fish tank was a very long time. He definitely lived a long life compared to the average life span. To date, I believe only three other blue crawdads have been spotted at lake Texoma, and two red ones. Something about that lake has some crazy variations of water life. There is supposedly a 15 ft. catfish that lives at the bottom of the dam. Three different people have claimed to have seen it, but no one has been able to get photographic evidence. There is sonar evidence of its possible existence. Experts say that it is very possible it exists. The depths and conditions are just right.

Always amazing watching the process - thanks guys!

Never being around a pond build, thank you for explaining the reason for the core build. It makes sense to this old man now.

Looks like the lake/pond is gonna be on the smaller end of possibilities because of the swamp discovery. I hope the land owner understands how fortunate he is to have people who know what they are doing! 👍

Doing an excellent job of explaining things how it's done thanks dirt perfect

Thanks for the ride along. Like the explanation as to why the key, makes perfect sense. Looking forward to the next vid.

Nice team work guy's!

What you did get done looks good. Thanks for sharing DP.

Thanks for SHOWING and explaining about the core trench finally understand why

Very informative and very quality oriented. Enjoyed your videos thank you for sharing

Incredible education in dirt, thanks, Mike. This video, building on a couple others you've recently done, including "Mission Impossible," I can really see now how the quality of, and clay content makes such a difference in the final product. I guess the title says it all... "Dirt Perfect!"

you sure do want water in the hole but not when your building it for sure. comeing along nice. cheers guys.

Mike, just wanted to take time to let you know how much I enjoy your videos. I am a 43 year old self employed Residential General Contractor. I relate to a lot you talk about and loved the pod casts about your old business and the energy efficiency of homes. I have a few ties to your area. I am From Evansville, but my wife is from Rockport and my father-in-law worked for 30+ years for Foertsch Construction as their river operations manager and he worked for Mulzers for several years before that. Logger Wade was logging just down the road from our house here in Posey Co last fall and my son got to go meet him and spend some time in the woods with him on a couple different days. Which then lead to Wade inviting us up to the mill on a Saturday for a private tour which was amazing and made my 11 year old son’s entire life pretty much. 😂. I am doing a large remodel now just down the street from captain Kleeman’s hose house so I hear those guy going out all time. You all are a great group. Totally enjoy everything. I hope you all have a great 2022.

I remember quite awhile back asking you what was so important about a "core." You said to just wait. Since then I have learned a LOT about how important it is, what it does and what it is made of.

The key way is a great idea. I think we will use that method on a pond I have in need of repair. Awesome job!

Mike great video, you Jerry and Matt are quite the team ! Thanks for sharing! Kevin

Jerry is a great bulldozer operator! Great job all of you!

Never disappointed in your videos Mike. And I think Matt is seeing that your giving him seat time which is very important if your ever going to hire out to someone. It looks easy till it ain't and you are the one setting in mud over the tracks an the bellypan sucked down on some blue stuff. I never tried any of this when pioneering a road on logging roads that crossed muskeg or boulder outcrops. Some roads never came our way so we put in corduroy to get across and try to get enough rock for water plus culverts where no one seen the water come but it sure was a running full on streams before a day would be finished. Those roots are a road builders nightmare at times. If it won't pack then it won't stay. But when three or more days of nothing but rock base and mud are in the roadbed, its not good. Got to have that base or it will sure make your road bed soft. Its cut a trail for that water to get away or find another way.

i love watching your videos i find it very interesting and informative keep doing how you do them .. thank you again

Ponds, according to limnology (the study of water bodies) are shallow enough where plants could conceivably grow across the entire surface. This area, where plants could grow is known as the “photic zone,” meaning where the sun’s rays can reach the bottom. A lake, by contrast, has an “aphotic zone,” meaning there is an area deep enough that sunlight can’t reach the bottom. As a result, there are some very small bodies of water, less than an acre that are deep enough to be called lakes. Conversely, there are some very large, but shallow water bodies, particularly in the south that are technically ponds, (though they’re called lakes) because their “photic zone” expands the entire length and width.

Thanks for sharing the great video Mike!

Hey Dr. Dirt, Pond dam surgery seems to be progressing rather well! Great job! (so far).

from the Netherlands thanks for the video DP

I saw that smile on Jerry's face. When he trapped DP. Lol God bless

Love the dozer work Mike and guy's .

Really good video,some really good looking dirt for the core,makes easier for compacting.y’all never disappoint.keep it up.beautiful day appears to be..👍👍👍👍😎😎😎😎

Great video, good luck with the mud.

Again, thank you for the schooling. Had I paid attention in school like I do these video's, hard tellin' what could have happened. Thumbs up and a couple of smiley faces. 👍👍👍👍👍😁😁😁😁😁

Nice job not getting stuck

You guys will do it no problem.Thanks for the upload 👍🏻

I was like a kid watching cartoons with this video. Very interesting and educational. Thx my man. I don’t think I’m ready to build ponds yet, but maybe I will one day.

Good job guys, big job for year end. Jerry teaching you how to get out of a hole, schools in session 👍🇺🇸

Awesome video. Very well explained.

I believe ponds are determined by being shallow enough to allow sunlight to reach the bottom. When ever the sun reaches the bottom, it creates lots of plant growth that can reach the surface. Lakes are generally deep and get very little or no sunlight. It doesn’t take long for plant life growth in a 5 or 6 foot deep body of water. Thats just my understanding…..lol. This is a Great video for anyone thinking about the requirements and process when digging a lake or pond. 👍🏻

It’s awesome to watch the two 850’s working together

Thanks Mike!

hope it still goes well. big job.

Starting to see her shape up now !!!

Definitely a challenge. You have had a lot of rain this fall and a solid rock bench under much of the area. Going to have to borrow the kids "water wings" for the 850's.

"As we observe the behavior of the bulldozers in the wild, the larger Baconator is of a superior position, and is reminding the D4g of it's beta position within the pack" 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Awesome job y'all are doing be safe and always be careful doing what u do Dirt Perfect

Nice job Mike !! 😎

Keep them coming mike. Great job buddy.

Mike you know it would be never ending. To dig the Grand Canyon. Lol God bless

I never realized you had to dig a trench like that! I thought ponds were just dug out and the dam banks were just built up!

If you're just digging and pushing dirt, this video is not very entertaining. But with you explaining everything along the way and doing the time lapse, it becomes a fantastic, very entertaining video. You should have 500,000 subs by now. Great video Michael

Mike, pass on to Jerry, that he is "Chuck Norris" of operators! When he pushes dirt, dirt KNOWS it's been pushed!😊😊😊

So fascinating from a man from Durham England.. 👌👌✨✨

Bring that lil guy down here to Louisiana I got some crawfish boil in the cabinet

Ponds are my favorite ,, Lt Dan a close second ;-)

Yup did enjoy this video bro, never knew those water creatures tunneled under ground. We have them in creeks and waterways here in NZ and they do taste nice. Safe travels

Another nice job

Looks great Mike 🇺🇲 another job well done 🇺🇲

I see that you apply the knowledge and common sense to every job 👌! I would say you don't half do anything! It is going to be awesome when you are done! Be glad when MBTS can be back. He is a laugh a minute 🤣🤣. Very entertaining Sir 🎉

Pond building is tough, but you guys will prevail! Good luck, great video.

Good mornings... Them crawlfish last a while in the fish tank.. until you get a grommie in there, my yard is full of them makes the yard real mess whenever it rains alot..

Enjoyed the video.

I had high anxiety walking through the trench. That stuff is no joke. These are excellent videos. Dirt Perfect!

DP, you are very fortunate, as you surely know, that you to have great workers. They show up on time, put an honest days hard work in and are willing to learn. Nowadays those attributes are sometimes hard to find. Thank you for the grate content :]>) John here, from the back-roads of Northeastern Tennessee.

Some awesome progress today Mike. This "lake" project will be a challenge but it's all good.

I have always heard that term "keyway" but never really understood what it meant until this video. Thanks for clearing that up for me!

Looks like that's going to be a fun pound to build put you will get it

Years ago when they were building the Mark Twain Lake Northeast Missouri they run into that issue with Rock and cavities. Remember it vividly. It is now a huge resort And provides water to a large part of Northeast Missouri period

That will keep matt outta trouble. I notice that jerry jumped in old reliable today since its warmer

For silt fence I use a one bottom farm plow. Rolls the dirt to the side. Put fence in and a kick of your foot rolls 6 foot of dirt back against the fence

An old Yankee once told me that a lake had an inny and an outy, but a pond only has an outy. But my grandfather, also an old Yankee, had three ponds on his property. One was a fire department water hole, fed by a brook, and a middle pond, fed by the fire hole, and a third pond, fed by the middle pond, and the whole thing drained into the swamp. The swamp fed a creek, the creek went to a river, the river went to an estuary which drained to the bay, and that went to the ocean. The holes with water in them were definitely ponds. I have seen lakes.

looking good

I see Jerry was reminding you who is top dog here...... 🤣🤣 Well explained by Matt and you the purpose of core trenching, had no idea crayfish would dig that far away from a waterway !!! Was definitely turning a bit soft there, at least no one has disappeared from sight yet !!! 🤞🤞🤞

Great job for a scraper Mike 😉👍🏼

Loved it m8 once agian Mr Dirty 👏 👍

Can't wait to see it done .it will be filled before you get done .😂😂😂keep up the great video DP 👍👌😎✌️🇺🇲

will be watching to see what and how you get the "muddy" section of dirt out, and what you do with it.

Just realized We welded a skid steer buck for ya like a week ago definitely will be cool to see it get put to work after you get it

I knew that craw fish were down south by New Orleans but as far north as Indiana that's a surprise 😂 digging the core for a dam is like a foundation for a house. Good luck 👍.

Makes for a interesting video seeing how the moisture affects the process. Wouldn’t guess that dirt would be smooshy

Well, one day late due to so many important last day of season games yesterday but that just means I get to watch another awesome Dirt Perfect vid on a nothing planned morning. Between DP Mike and Chris Letsdig18 vids it's shaping up to be a really entertaining day. Hopefully, there'll be a couple of Mustie1 and Watch Wes Work vids later. Maybe since I'm one day late on this one there'll be another DP post later today. Gee, that'd be nice Mike. Keep up the hard work Mike, Matt and Jerry. We'll be cheering you on.

It will all work out and be nice a pond

Good to see how you tackle a lake / pond / giant puddle ! And how you make sure it’s watertight from the start ! How deep is the water hopefully going to be in this one when finished ?

Soft ground DP like always you Matt and Jerry pull it off

Came to see Jerry show off. Stayed for the ship show.

Man your in for a ride on this one. Hope it gets better

Excellent video-love watching those big dozers move that dirt. (Excavator is okay too DP)

gettin' 'er done, good one..