Where does a new pond make sense on Grayson County land?
A new pond makes sense where runoff already collects: a low draw, the foot of a gentle slope, or a swale that stays wet after storms. Grayson County's Blackland Prairie clay helps a basin hold water, so the bigger question is usually where the water will come from and what the pond is for.
Pick the spot by where the water runs, not by where the pond would look best from the porch.
- Stock waterA pasture pond means cattle and horses drink where they graze, instead of someone filling a trough through a dry August.
- Runoff with nowhere to goA draw that floods the lane after every storm can be dug out to hold that water rather than send it across the drive.
- A pond near the houseSmaller basins close to the house are often built for fishing, wildlife or the view as much as for the water itself.
- A plan for the spoilDigging a basin turns up a lot of dirt. Decide before the first bucket where it goes: the dam, a low corner or a future building site.
How big is a pond, and how much dirt comes out of it?
Pond size in cubic yards is length times width times average depth, all in feet, divided by 27. A basin 100 feet long, 60 feet wide and 6 feet deep on average holds about 1,333 cubic yards, which is roughly 269,000 gallons of water and the same volume of dirt to place.
Use the average depth, not the deepest point. A basin with sloped sides that reaches 10 feet in the middle may average only 5 or 6 feet across its whole footprint. The same numbers show that a pond this size is under one acre-foot (43,560 cubic feet), far below the 200 acre-foot line in the Texas Water Code covered further down this page.
Length × Width × Avg depth ÷ 27
- Length
- 100 ft
- Width
- 60 ft
- Average depth
- 6 ft
- Basin volume
- ≈ 1,333 yd³
- Water held
- ≈ 269,000 gal
100 × 60 × 6 = 36,000 cubic feet. 36,000 ÷ 27 = 1,333 cubic yards. Each cubic foot holds about 7.48 gallons.
How does Grayson County clay affect a new pond?
Grayson County clay affects a pond in two ways: it holds water well while it stays wet, and it shrinks and cracks when a drought pulls the level down. Those cracks can open seepage paths and crumble the bank face, so the waterline is the part of a Sherman-area pond that needs the most protection.
- Exempt, within limits. Section 11.142 lets a landowner build a dam or reservoir holding up to 200 acre-feet on their own property for domestic and livestock use without a state water permit. For irrigation, business use or anything larger, check with TCEQ before digging.
- Call 811 first. Buried gas, water, power and fiber lines get marked at no charge before any excavation starts. Texas law expects that call before digging.
- Plan for the dry years. North Texas summers pull a lot of water out of a pond through evaporation. A deeper section somewhere in the basin keeps water there through a long dry stretch.
Starting from a wooded or overgrown spot? Land clearing ahead of the dig opens the site first. If a low corner elsewhere on the property needs raising, fill dirt for leveling and backfill comes from the same phone call.
What does pond work with HARDROCK Sand and Gravel cover?
HARDROCK Sand and Gravel covers pond work from an overgrown spot to a finished basin. That can mean clearing brush where the pond will sit, digging and shaping the basin around standing trees, and armoring banks with rip rap where waves hit. Every piece is priced together on one phone call.
- Brush cleared off the pond site
- Basin dug out and shaped
- Mature trees worked around, as in the job pictured below
- Rip rap set over filter fabric on exposed banks
- Rock and dirt for the job hauled by the same company
- Tell HARDROCK the planCall or send the form with the property location, the size you have in mind and what the pond is for: stock water, runoff or looks.
- Check the sizeHARDROCK works through the length, width and depth with you, the same volume math shown above.
- Price and a start dayBoth come back by phone, along with any clearing or rip rap the site needs.
- Dig, shape, armorThe basin is dug and shaped, and rip rap goes on the banks that need it.
Should a pond bank be left as clay, grassed, or covered in rip rap?
A pond bank that takes regular wave action should get rip rap over filter fabric, while a sheltered bank on a small pond can usually be seeded. Bare clay costs nothing extra on day one, but on Grayson County ground it is the finish most likely to slump and wash.
| Bank finish | Against waves and runoff | Upkeep | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare clay, as dug | Notches at the waterline and slumps when soaked | Reshaping after wet seasons | Short term, until grass or rock goes on |
| Grass seeded | Holds once rooted; weak for the first months | Mowing, reseeding bare patches | Sheltered banks and the dry side of a dam |
| Rip rap on fabric | Holds: the rock takes the wave energy and the fabric keeps clay in place | An occasional check for shifted stones | The wind-facing bank, the water side of a dam, inflow points |
In North Texas the prevailing south wind usually drives waves into the north bank, so that side is the first candidate for rock. The details of fabric, stone size and hand-setting are on the page about rip rap for pond banks and culverts.
What does a pond basin dug by HARDROCK look like?
This pond basin dug by HARDROCK was cut into pale grey clay in a stand of mature trees. Several trunks were left standing in and around the basin, and the dug spoil is still piled in the foreground. Nothing has been seeded or armored with rock yet.
The basin in the photo is still dry. Ponds in this part of Texas fill from rain and runoff, so a new basin can sit low for weeks or months depending on the season it was dug in. Every other job and material HARDROCK handles is on the full list of HARDROCK services.
What landowners around Sherman say on Google
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JJ W3 months ago
Excellent experience working with Dean, he went out of his way to get me the material i was needing. Top notch customer service. I would highly recommend giving Hardrock Sand and Gravel a call!
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Frisco Grass Guys LLC5 months ago
Top-notch company! Their prices are excellent, customer service is outstanding, and communication has always been reliable. I’ve been working with them for over two years and would highly recommend them for all your material deliveries 🚚 🤝
Read moreTop-notch company! Their prices are excellent, customer service is outstanding, and communication has always been reliable. I’ve been working with them for over two years and would highly recommend them for all your material deliveries 🚚 🤝
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Robert Holt9 months ago
Great service. Leo the driver was very friendly and courteous. Also spoke with the owner, Dean. He was very friendly and gave me some great information. Great job!!!!!!!!!
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Clyde Roberts11 months ago
Super helpful, on time delivery and informative. I would highly recommend
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Tami Beattya year ago
Couldn't be happier with this company. Called yesterday for help with an issue on my driveway. Talked with Dean the owner, he told me what we needed to do to correct the issue. I asked how soon he thought they might get to it and he said maybe the end of the week. By 8pm the same night, he was on the phone with me asking if it would fit my schedule for his guys to come the next day around noon. His guys were on time, polite, hard working and went out of their way to make sure the job was done perfectly and the price was more than fair. I will definitely use this company for all my sand and gravel needs in the future.
Read moreCouldn't be happier with this company. Called yesterday for help with an issue on my driveway. Talked with Dean the owner, he told me what we needed to do to correct the issue. I asked how soon he thought they might get to it and he said maybe the end of the week. By 8pm the same night, he was on the phone with me asking if it would fit my schedule for his guys to come the next day around noon. His guys were on time, polite, hard working and went out of their way to make sure the job was done perfectly and the price was more than fair. I will definitely use this company for all my sand and gravel needs in the future.
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Dustin Szumowskia year ago
Great driver and solid prices! Worked with us in to get all the aggregate we needed for the project! Phenomenal communication! That was the biggest pet for us with all the moving pieces of this project.
Reviews are shown as written on Google. See all 24 on Google
What do landowners ask HARDROCK before a pond is dug?
Landowners planning a pond with HARDROCK Sand and Gravel usually want to know two things first: whether HARDROCK works on their side of Grayson County, and how a pond job gets priced before any equipment shows up.
Does HARDROCK dig ponds outside Sherman?
HARDROCK Sand and Gravel takes pond work in Sherman, Denison and across Grayson County. Call 903-420-0330 with the property location and HARDROCK will confirm the job is in its area before anything is scheduled.
How is a pond job priced?
HARDROCK Sand and Gravel prices pond work over the phone once the rough size, the site and any clearing or rip rap are known. Have a length, width and average depth in mind; the volume math on this page gives a starting number to share.
