Project Update: Improving Water Flow & Rebuilding the Pond Spillway System
Our DLB Excavating crew is currently underway on a major drainage improvement project designed to restore water flow, prevent flooding, and strengthen the overall spillway system. This work is critical for long-term site stability, and our team is making steady progress as we reshape and upgrade multiple components of the pond.
With decades of combined experience in pond restoration, spillway construction, utility installation, and complex earthwork, our crew is well-equipped for projects like this. We’ve completed numerous drainage upgrades across residential developments, agricultural properties, commercial sites, and municipal stormwater systems. From forming large concrete spillways to installing HDPE piping and rebuilding riprap outfalls, our operators, pipe crews, and concrete team understand the precision and planning required to do the job right.
We bring the right equipment, the right people, and a proven process-allowing us to tackle challenging terrain, tight elevations, and detailed water-control structures with confidence. Every step we take on this project reflects the experience we’ve gained on similar jobs over the years, ensuring that the finished system will be durable, functional, and built to handle heavy storm events.
We are actively mucking and grading the pond bottom, a critical first step in restoring proper hydraulic flow. Over time, ponds accumulate layers of silt, organics, and debris that restrict water movement and reduce storage capacity. Our crew is systematically removing this buildup, exposing a clean and stable subgrade.
Using our skilled operators and well-equipped machinery, we are reshaping the pond bottom to create a smooth, intentional path for water to travel toward the spillway. This includes cutting high spots, filling low areas, and re-establishing the designed flow line.
In addition, our team is performing precise slope work to tie into existing grades. This ensures that the new contours blend seamlessly with the surrounding terrain, prevents erosion, and maintains consistent water movement during both normal and high-flow conditions. Our experience with similar pond restoration and grading projects allows us to perform this work efficiently while maintaining the accuracy required for long-term performance.
Our crew is in the process of forming the new emergency/overflow concrete spillway. This structure will include a top section and side slope access, giving the site greater capacity to handle heavy storm events and offering easier long-term maintenance.
The concrete placement will be completed once final forms, base preparation, and reinforcement are in place.
At the outfall, our crew is actively working to restore and stabilize an area that has experienced long-term erosion and settlement. We are regrading the existing riprap zone, reshaping it to re-establish the proper slope and ensure water exits the pond in a controlled and predictable manner.
As part of this process, we are preparing the area for refurbished riprap installation at a 2-foot depth, which provides a thicker, more durable layer capable of withstanding high-flow conditions. Before placing any new stone, our team is installing filter fabric to prevent soil migration and maintain the long-term integrity of the slope. This creates a separation layer that stops fines from washing out and undermining the structure.
We are also setting up for the placement of groutstone at the final grade, which will help lock the riprap together, reduce movement during major storm events, and add additional energy dissipation as water exits the system.
These steps work together to stabilize the outfall, minimize erosion, and control water velocity, ensuring water leaves the pond safely without damaging the surrounding embankment or downstream areas.
Nearby, our crew is addressing an old plastic pipe that is no longer needed as part of the upgraded stormwater system. Instead of performing a full removal-which can be costly and may disturb stable soils-we are preparing to fill the pipe with flowable fill, a low-strength, self-leveling material that prevents future collapsing or void formation.
Once filled, the pipe will be plugged and abandoned in place, sealing it off permanently. Afterward, our team will refurbish the surrounding riprap to ensure a consistent, reinforced finish that blends seamlessly with the updated outfall work.
This approach provides a safe, cost-effective, and structurally sound solution, all while maintaining the stability of the area and reducing unnecessary excavation.
As we move through the next stages of grading, concrete placement, and riprap stabilization, we’ll continue to share updates. If your property or site needs spillway repair, grading, or stormwater improvements, our experienced crew is ready to help.