Baller lakeaustinskier Posted December 28, 2011 Baller Share Posted December 28, 2011 I need some feedback and help. Due to continuing drought in our area we are considering digging out and deepening our lake (Aquaplex in Austin). Most of the ski lakes in the area have been unskiable since July (including Aquaplex). To preserve the slope ratio we’re thinking that the digging should be from the centerline out beyond the buoys maybe 15 feet max. I need some feedback from people that have deepened their lakes, (names, numbers etc.). I’m discovering that digging out and deepening an existing lake is a different animal than digging a new lake or just removing sediment. Thanks for any help or comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller A_B Posted December 29, 2011 Baller Share Posted December 29, 2011 I know a guy who drained his entire lake and then refilled it. That was in Ohio, and not sure it would work down in arrid Austin. I don't know if you can launch a dredger which would suck up the bottom on a barge then unload on shore. Digging a secondary lake for draining off sort of defeats the purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller A_B Posted December 29, 2011 Baller Share Posted December 29, 2011 Something like this: http://www.londonbridgemarine.com/dredging.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Bruce_Butterfield Posted December 29, 2011 Baller_ Share Posted December 29, 2011 We dug ours our a few years ago and most of the excavation was outside the course area. You will still have the same issues with shoreline erosion as a new lake. If you want the lake usable when its 3 ft low, then you will either have to have really long slopes or do something like rip-rap on the shorelines. Dredging and moving mud are at least twice as expensive as moving semi-dry dirt. Shoot me an email at bruce dot kim at texoma dot net and we can chat. If it was easy, they would call it Wakeboarding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thompjs Posted December 29, 2011 Baller Share Posted December 29, 2011 We did Ski Texas Phase 2 a few years ago. I have a few tips - jim at lsfdev com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted December 29, 2011 Baller_ Share Posted December 29, 2011 Ski Watch is doing it now. You will need to have deep enough water to get around the buoys and the boat path needs to be deep also. I am not sure any lake could stay full without a well with the type of drought that Texas has had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taelan28 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 If you are considering physically deepening your lake then you have too much money. Just add water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted December 30, 2011 Baller Share Posted December 30, 2011 If it were only that easy as to just add water! Believe me, if they had the ability to just add water they would have been skiing this year and 2009 instead of skiing at other sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Sullivan Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Taelan28, That is another stupid comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller rodltg2 Posted December 30, 2011 Baller Share Posted December 30, 2011 "If you are considering physically deepening your lake then you have too much money. Just add water." Duh, why didn't you think of that LakeAustin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thompjs Posted December 30, 2011 Baller Share Posted December 30, 2011 scot, email me at jim at lsfdev com I've got some questions for you. That seems about twice what you should be paying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller lakeaustinskier Posted December 30, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted December 30, 2011 Thanks to everyone for the feedback and keep the comments coming! I've sent some reply e-mails out and hopefully I'll get some good feedback to kickstart this project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller lakeaustinskier Posted December 30, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted December 30, 2011 Sorry - hit send too fast. Aquaplex is fed by run-off from a 2,000 acre watershed (no well etc.). Right now the Austin Area is about 23 inches below normal in rainfall for the last 12 month period. We've had the area reviewed by a hydrologist and he tells us that Aquaplex is located in a fantastic area for a ski lake (lots of clay) but bad news is there's absolutely no significant groundwater within 10 miles. We've considered bulding a third lake for a reservoir however that option would probably kick in lots of permits/regulations and government hassle. Dredging is crazy expensive and since there's about 6 inches of water in the lakes right now why not drain? For those of you that have skied at Aquaplex we've hosted many large tournaments over the years (several Big Dawgs, U. S. Open etc.). The Collegiate Nationals were held at Aquaplex last year. Bottom line is we want to be very careful and not change the "great skiing" that Aquaplex is known for. Obviously I have too much money since I'm paying dues NOT to ski at Aquaplex but I'm still paying cash to lease at another ski lake located about an hour from my house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 I've been involved in a fair amount of earthwork- I'd say that if you can drain it dry or mostly so, a good operator with a scraper is the way to go- If you're not hauling the material anywhere, and can distribute or use it on-site, scrapers are money. Scrapers are way faster than dozers but sometimes not as available. Loading and trucking after removing the material adds a lot to costs. I would bet a least a few anchors will get moved or destroyed, and that adds time and cost for replacement as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted December 31, 2011 Baller Share Posted December 31, 2011 Have you guys considered continuing your berm out and only leaving a small opening between the two lake? Then if you knew you were in danger of going too low, you could easily close it off and pump from one lake to fill the other completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller lakeaustinskier Posted December 31, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted December 31, 2011 Extending the berm and only leaving a small gap between the two lakes was already part of the plan (we'll also get rid of some of the dirt that way). We're also trying to figure out the best way to leave a small gap between the two lakes to allow boats to pass between the two lakes, yet still be able to close off the gap and pump from one lake to another. Short of dumping dirt to temporarily fill the gap is there another option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller elr Posted January 1, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 1, 2012 This was the best I was able to find for a temp dam. About 3K for a 20 ft x 6ft tall opening IIRC. http://www.hydrologicalsolutions.com/wipp/home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taelan28 Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Obviously I have too much money since I'm paying dues NOT to ski at Aquaplex but I'm still paying cash to lease at another ski lake located about an hour from my house.You must have eyes on your back, 'cause you got money to the ceiling. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ludacris/rolloutmybusiness.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Sullivan Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 Dude, Your on the wrong board. Take this crap some place else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MAD11 Posted January 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2012 So much for this thread! Aquaplex should be full by sun up. Water is running in so hard its a foot over the road. Hopefully were not talking about deepening the lake for another 20 years or so. Will be nice to have our lakes back. Anyone awake can help me keep the slalom dock from going over the dam. We forgot to tie it up while it was sitting in the mud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted January 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2012 That's good to hear! And it's on our way to us. Our ski lake is full but we'll take all we can get across the street at Conroe as it's still 9 ft low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MAD11 Posted January 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2012 Just a little bit. T$ and I on buoy duty later today. Time to set things right again round here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted January 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2012 Think I might have to make a trip over there to hang out and ski sometime soon. What's the water temp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MAD11 Posted January 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2012 Not sure yet. Was 62 at SMRR yesterday. Better be careful though. This new TXI is sick May convert you from that gas hog your skiing behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller teammalibu Posted January 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2012 Marc Time to start planning the BallerBash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller disland Posted January 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2012 Great news you all got flooded. Now you just have to turn the jump around. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MAD11 Posted January 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2012 Come on Dave. Never heard Jimmy S. complain about jumping here. He set two world records in those days I believe. We will just make sure the wind is from the North next time you visit. Actually its from the North right now. Start driving! Were back in business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller disland Posted January 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2012 Fair enough. Just having my name in the same sentence as Jimmy made my day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted January 25, 2012 Baller Share Posted January 25, 2012 I aint afraid of no TXI. I'm in. Knee is about 80% now, which is about 30% better than before the surgery. Time to ski. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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