Lake Dam Leaking

[BIG DADDY]

I have a friend that has a large lake. IT would be hugh if it would ever fill up. I am shure it is leaking threw the dam. On the bottom of it, it stays very wet. I was told by a guy that help the mines rebuild the lake, that they filled the dam up with very large rocks that took 2 dozers to push. THe people who owned it before this guy traded it back to the mines for some more land, because it would not hold water. He is looking for a dye to put in the lake to see if it is leaking threw the dam. He said a guy told him they sold one. And he wants me to find it and I have no idea where to start. anybody have any idea what this die is?

[WBBP]

There are several dyes available, but you have really got to be careful when using them. Fluorescein and Rhodamine can definately be used for leak detection, but the colored water that escapes can cause problems such as a dairy cow drinking the colored water and in turn producing red/green milk. Dye water may also alarm neighbors and make them think that there has been a chemical leak of some sort or that their water is contaminated and unfit to drink. All of these things have happened in and around BG in the past. Be careful!

Optical brightener is probably the best choice, but you will need some sort of media to absorb the leaking water such as cotton balls and then place the cotton balls under an IR lamp to check for detection. This is pretty simple and cheap.

1) Fluorescein is green and can be observed withe the naked eye

2) Rhodamine is red and can be observed with the naked eye.

3) Optical Brightener cannot be observed with the naked eye and has to be osserved under an IR Lamp.

I would contact a professional at the NRCS for help. Good luck.

K

[BIG DADDY]

Thanks for the help. I will tell him to contact them.

[littleindian]

Go to www.pondboss.com they can answer any question you have about ponds & lakes.

[Multidigits]

IF the dam was correctly constructed, you kay have a root or something there causing the leak. You might fix it wit bentonite. It would be best to drain it down past the leak or suspected leak and disc in the bentonite. Use plenty, and it should seal it up. Another route would be to fence it in, and buy some hogs. They will keep it stirred up enough to eventually fill the void.