A well-planned and built pond can provide livestock water, fishing opportunities, soil erosion control, fire protection, and a nice place to relax. Probably the most common reason a pond in the Ozarks leaks is because the wrong soil was used for sealing it or because the right soil was improperly compacted. Some folks think a bulldozer does a good job of compaction. 7-9 D7 Cat. The rules of good compaction hold true for building animal and household waste lagoons as well.
Soil moisture is a critical element in the compaction process.
Many of the blocky clay Ozarks soils are quite leaky in their natural state.