

A complete drain and excavation are likely out of the question for many of these pond owners. Pond owners resort to a variety of methods, like excavation to clean the outer area of the pond but cannot get to the center with the excavator’s arms reach. Looking to clean the pond and increase the water level by pond dredging, pond owners need to remove a couple of feet of sediment and recirculate in clean water without disturbing the current wildlife. Over time, ponds start to get filled up with sediment and if not constantly maintained, they get mucky and lose their water level. They want to know how to dredge their large ponds. If you want to learn more about how suction dredges work and how they find gold, check out our infographic below.Owners of a large acre plus pond need an economical solution for pond dredging and cleaning their prized watering holes. It also requires a large investment upfront, with the cost of equipment averaging several thousand dollars. The process involves hauling heavy equipment, lifting and moving stones too wide for the suction nozzle, fighting against the water’s current, and lots of swimming. While it may sound easy, suction dredging is much more difficult than vacuuming coins out of your couch cushions (or gold flakes out of your carpeting).

In a way, the process is like a combination of the best parts of gold panning and gold dredging. These materials pass into a floating sluice, which filters and recovers the gold. It sucks up rocks, gravel, silt, and anything else at the bottom of a streambed using a gas-powered pump and suction hose. For the amateur prospector who wants to take their hobby to the next level but doesn’t want to work in a mine, upgrading to suction dredge can be a great way to find more gold while still enjoying the great outdoors.Ī suction dredge essentially works like a heavy-duty underwater vacuum cleaner.
