Why is my pond leaking?

Common causes are soil that doesn't have enough clay to hold water, a dam that wasn't compacted well when it was built, roots or burrows through the dam, and a spillway or outlet that lets water around or under the dam. Where it leaks and how fast tells you a lot, so we look at the dam before recommending a fix.

Can a leaking pond be fixed?

Often. Depending on the cause, a fix can mean digging out and recompacting part of the dam with good clay, sealing the bottom with clay, rebuilding a failed spillway, or reshaping and armoring an eroded face. Some leaks, especially through a large dam, need an engineer's look first.

My spillway washed out. What now?

A spillway that washes out puts the whole dam at risk the next time it rains hard. We rebuild it in undisturbed ground at the end of the dam, wide enough for big storms, and armor it with rock where water drops or turns.

Do I need a permit to repair a dam?

Repairing an existing dam to its original size usually doesn't need a water right, but raising it or enlarging the pond can. In South Dakota check with DANR's Water Rights Program, and in Wyoming with the State Engineer's Office. Larger dams can also fall under state dam safety rules.

Long-reach excavator beside a pond, with cattails and silt from the cleanout piled along the bank

Our Services

Dam Cleanout & Repair

Sediment removal, embankment and spillway repair to restore capacity in ponds, stock dams, and small impoundments.

About Dam Cleanout & Repair

Black River Contracting repairs and cleans out pond dams and stock dams across Western South Dakota and Northeast Wyoming. A dam that leaks, seeps, has a washed-out spillway or a pond that’s silted in loses the water it was built to hold, and small problems get bigger with every runoff.

What we fix

Leaks and seeps through or under the dam, by digging out and rebuilding the problem section with good clay, compacted in layers.
Washed-out and eroded spillways, rebuilt in solid ground and armored with rock where the water drops or turns.
Eroded and slumping dam faces, reshaped and protected with riprap where waves or runoff are cutting into them.
Settled and trampled crests, built back up to height.
Silted-in ponds, dug back to depth from the bank with our long-reach excavator. See pond dredging and stock pond cleanout.

Signs a dam needs work

Wet spots, seeps or flowing water on the downstream side or at the toe of the dam.
The pond drops faster than evaporation explains.
Gullies, slumps or cracks on the dam face or crest.
A spillway that’s cut deep, filled in, or has water running around its ends.

How a repair goes

We look at the dam with you first, ideally when the water is low, to find where the problem starts. Then we plan the repair, call in utility locates, and do the work from the crest or the bank so the machine stays on firm ground. Disturbed ground is shaped and left ready to seed.

Some dams, especially large ones, need an engineer’s design for a major repair. We’ll tell you if yours does.

Rancher guides

What we handle

Sediment and debris removal
Dam face and embankment repair
Spillway cleanout and repair
Leak and seep repair
Riprap on dam faces and spillways
Erosion control and slope repair
Outlet and overflow improvements
Site restoration and grading

Approach

Dam cleanout and repair work is performed based on existing conditions, water control requirements, and site access. Black River Contracting plans work to maintain stability of the dam while completing repairs safely and efficiently.

When Dam Cleanout and Repair Is Required

These services are used when sediment buildup reduces capacity, erosion threatens the embankment, or spillways and outlets are no longer functioning as intended.

Why Black River?

Veteran-owned & operated (SDVOSB)
Modern, well-maintained equipment
Direct communication, no runaround
Clean sites, on-time delivery

Common questions

Why is my pond leaking?: Common causes are soil that doesn't have enough clay to hold water, a dam that wasn't compacted well when it was built, roots or burrows through the dam, and a spillway or outlet that lets water around or under the dam. Where it leaks and how fast tells you a lot, so we look at the dam before recommending a fix.
Can a leaking pond be fixed?: Often. Depending on the cause, a fix can mean digging out and recompacting part of the dam with good clay, sealing the bottom with clay, rebuilding a failed spillway, or reshaping and armoring an eroded face. Some leaks, especially through a large dam, need an engineer's look first.
My spillway washed out. What now?: A spillway that washes out puts the whole dam at risk the next time it rains hard. We rebuild it in undisturbed ground at the end of the dam, wide enough for big storms, and armor it with rock where water drops or turns.
Do I need a permit to repair a dam?: Repairing an existing dam to its original size usually doesn't need a water right, but raising it or enlarging the pond can. In South Dakota check with DANR's Water Rights Program, and in Wyoming with the State Engineer's Office. Larger dams can also fall under state dam safety rules.