Service

Pond Construction

Stock ponds and tanks built to hold water, not just hold a hole.

A stock pond is only as good as the dirt work underneath it. Rangefinder Excavation builds ponds, stock tanks, and small dams across West Texas ranch and rural properties, sizing the dam, spillway, and basin to the watershed feeding it — not just digging a hole and hoping it holds water.

We've seen plenty of ponds fail because the dam wasn't compacted right or the spillway was an afterthought. We build it to the site conditions from the start, so you get a pond that holds water through a West Texas summer instead of one that's dry by June.

Excavator and haul truck moving earth on a West Texas job site at dusk

What's Included

Site and watershed assessment for pond sizing
Dam and tank construction with proper core and compaction
Spillway and overflow shaping
Basin excavation and shaping
Access road grading to the pond site
Erosion control around the finished dam

Why It Matters

Dams built with proper core and compaction, not just pushed-up dirt
Spillway sizing based on your actual watershed
Experience with West Texas clay and caliche soil conditions
One crew for excavation, dam building, and finish grading

Our Process

Evaluate the watershed

We look at where water actually drains on your property and size the dam and spillway to that watershed — not a one-size-fits-all pond.

Excavate the basin

We excavate the pond basin and use suitable material from the dig for the dam core, keeping the project efficient.

Build and compact the dam

The dam is built in compacted lifts with the right core material — this is the step that determines whether a pond holds water for years or fails in the first big rain.

Shape the spillway and finish

We shape a proper spillway to handle overflow safely, finish-grade the surrounding area, and address erosion control before we leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big should my stock pond be?

It depends on your watershed — how much land drains into the pond site and how much rainfall that area typically gets. We evaluate the drainage area before recommending a size, rather than guessing.

Why do some ponds lose water so fast?

Usually it's soil permeability, a dam that wasn't compacted properly, or a spillway that wasn't sized right and eroded. We address all three when we build, and can also evaluate an existing pond that isn't holding water.

Can you build a pond on caliche or rocky ground?

Yes — caliche and rocky soils are common across our service area. They actually help some ponds hold water better than sandy soil, though they may need different excavation approaches.