Pond Digging in Northern Colorado.
Stock ponds, ornamental ponds, and reservoirs sized for water and use.
About Pond Digging.
A pond is one of the more rewarding things you can put on a property — and one of the easier ones to do badly. The two questions that decide whether a pond is a feature or a problem are simple but unforgiving: will it hold water, and is it sized right for the water you actually have?
NLS digs ponds across Northern Colorado, from half-acre stock ponds and ornamental water features up to multi-acre reservoirs. Before we ever turn a track, we walk the property with you — confirming the water source, the overflow path, the soils, and where the spoil is going. Where soils have enough clay, we key and compact the bottom for natural retention. Where they don't, we tell you up front and recommend a liner rather than dig you a hole that drains out the second you fill it.
A note on water rights: Colorado regulates them tightly. We help you understand what you can and can't do, but the final permitting is on you and the state. We won't dig something that's going to get you crosswise with the state engineer.
What's included.
- Site selection review and water-source assessment
- Excavation to engineered depth and slope
- Clay-keying and compaction for water retention
- Spoil shaping into berms or hauled off as needed
How we execute.
- Step 01Site walk
Walk the property and confirm pond size, depth, water source, and overflow.
- Step 02Excavate
Dig to engineered profile with proper side-slopes for safety and stability.
- Step 03Seal
Where soils require it, we key and compact clay for retention. Liner-ready otherwise.
- Step 04Finish
Shape berms, place rip-rap on overflow, and rough-grade surrounds.
Why NLS for pond digging.
We compete on getting the dirt right the first time. Hire us once, hire us again — and tell your neighbor. That's the whole business plan.
Test pits and soil read first. If clay won't seal it, you find out before the dig — not after.
We dig with proper side-slopes for safety, livestock, and long-term stability.
A pond without a planned overflow is a pond that destroys its own berm. We rip-rap and grade outflow.
We won't dig something that gets you in trouble with the state. We point you to what you can build.
Common questions.
Will my pond hold water? +
Depends on soils. We test or test-pit before digging. If clay won't seal it, we tell you up front and recommend a liner.
Do I need a permit? +
In Colorado, water rights are tightly regulated. We help you understand what you can and can't do — but final permits are on you.
How big can you dig? +
From a ½-acre stock pond to multi-acre reservoirs. Equipment scales to the job.
Can you stock the pond? +
We don't stock fish, but we'll point you to a reputable Northern Colorado supplier.
We offer Pond Digging across the region.
More services we offer.
- Grading & Leveling
Survey-grade GPS grading for pads, slabs, driveways, and roads. Tight tolerances, clean finish.
- Roads & Driveways
From rural ranch drives to subdivision streets — properly cut, based, crowned, and surfaced.
- Land Clearing
Trees, brush, and overgrowth cleared and hauled. Property reset, ready for what's next.
- Culverts & Drainage
Culverts sized and placed for the runoff your site actually gets, plus the drainage work to keep water moving.
Let's get the job done.
Free, no-pressure quote. Tell us what you're building or fixing — we'll tell you what it takes and when we can be on-site. Same-day response on weekdays.