Pond & Lake Construction in Navasota, TX — Stock Tanks, Fishing Ponds & Recreational Lakes
Conservation Contractor LLC builds custom ponds and lakes throughout Central Texas, serving property owners in Navasota, College Station, Bryan, Montgomery, Brenham, and surrounding communities. With over 20 years of hands-on experience in excavation and earthmoving, we design and construct ponds and lakes that hold water, drain properly, and add lasting value to your property.
Whether you're building a livestock stock tank, a bass fishing pond, a recreational lake, or a retention basin for drainage management, we handle every phase of the project — from site evaluation and excavation through dam construction, clay lining, and spillway installation.
Central Texas is excellent pond-building country — but success depends entirely on soil conditions, watershed size, and proper construction. Grimes County's mix of gray sandy loam upland soils over heavy clayey subsoils, combined with its well-defined drainage patterns from the Navasota and Brazos River watersheds, creates natural conditions for pond building when sites are chosen and constructed correctly.
Washington County's calcareous clay loam soils in the Brenham area hold water exceptionally well when properly compacted — making it prime territory for stock tanks and recreational ponds. Montgomery County's clay-rich soils in the southern reaches near Conroe and Montgomery provide good pond lining material, while the sandier northern areas may require imported clay liner material to ensure water retention.
Why Grimes, Washington, Brazos & Montgomery County Land Is Well-Suited for Ponds
Stock Tanks & Agricultural Ponds- Built for livestock water supply, irrigation, and general ranch use. We size the pond to your watershed and herd needs, construct a properly sloped dam with keyway seal, and install a spillway sized to handle your drainage area's peak rainfall events.
Recreational Fishing Ponds- Designed for bass, catfish, perch, and other sportfish. We shape the pond with proper depth gradients — shallow areas for spawning, deeper zones for fish habitat —and grade the banks for easy access and mowing.
Recreational Lakes- For larger water features on ranch and estate properties. We excavate and shape multi-acre lakes with proper dam and spillway engineering, berm construction, and bank stabilization.
Retention & Detention Ponds- Drainage management ponds for residential developments, commercial sites, and properties with standing water problems. We design these to capture and slow stormwater runoff, reducing erosion and flooding risk downstream.
Pond Renovation & Repair- Existing ponds that won't hold water, have a failed dam or spillway, or have silted up significantly can often be restored. We pump down, assess the issue, and repair or rebuild as needed.
Our Pond & Lake Construction Services
1. Site Evaluation- We walk your property, evaluate soil conditions in the proposed pond area, estimate the watershed drainage area feeding the site, and assess whether the location will support reliable water retention. Not every site is a good pond site — we'll tell you honestly before you spend a dollar.
2. Excavation & Shaping- We excavate to designed depth and shape, moving material to build the dam embankment. Typical construction ponds in this area range from 6 to 12 feet at the deepest point, with gradual slopes for bank stability and safety.
3. Dam Construction- The dam is the most critical element. We construct embankments with a 3:1 slope minimum, build a keyway trench at the base filled with compacted clay to prevent seepage under the dam, and compact fill material in lifts for long-term stability.
4. Clay Lining- Where native soils lack sufficient clay content for water retention, we compact a clay liner across the pond bottom and banks. This is critical in sandier areas to prevent chronic seeping.
5. Spillway Installation- A properly sized emergency spillway — either a pipe/riser system or a vegetated earthen spillway — is essential for every pond. Undersized spillways are the #1 cause of dam failure. We size spillways to the watershed area using standard engineering guidelines.
6. Bank Grading & Cleanup- We finish-grade the banks for stability and future mowing access, establish proper slopes, and leave the site clean and ready for water to collect.
Our Pond Construction Process
Frequently Asked Questions
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Pond construction costs vary widely based on size, soil conditions, dam height, and spillway requirements. A small stock tank (1/4 to 1/2 acre) typically starts around $5,000–$15,000. A 1–2 acre recreational pond with a proper dam and pipe spillway typically ranges from $15,000–$40,000 or more. We provide free on-site estimates — contact us to discuss your specific property and goals.
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Most ponds take 3–10 days of active construction, depending on size and complexity. Larger lake projects may take 2–4 weeks. The pond will begin collecting water as rainfall occurs — most ponds in this area fill within 1–3 rainy seasons.
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The best pond sites have a natural low area or draw that concentrates watershed drainage, adequate clay content in the soil, and enough upslope watershed to maintain water level through dry summers. We evaluate your site for free and give you an honest assessment before any work begins.
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Yes! We serve all of Central Texas including Brazos, Washington, Grimes, and Montgomery counties. Contact us for service availability in your specific area.
Why Choose Conservation Contractor LLC?
✔ Over 20 years of excavation experience
✔ Locally trusted in Navasota and surrounding areas
✔ High-quality workmanship and attention to detail
✔ Reliable timelines and competitive pricing
✔ Fully equipped for small and large-scale projects
We are committed to doing the job right the first time—delivering results you can depend on.
Proudly Serving the Great State of Texas
Ready to Build Your Pond?
Conservation Contractor LLC provides professional pond and lake construction throughout Navasota, College Station, Bryan, Montgomery, Brenham, and all surrounding areas of Central Texas. Contact us today to schedule your free on-site estimate.
Call now or fill out our form to schedule your consultation!