cleaning silt from stock tank

[dustoff79]

I have inherited some property outside of Lockhart. I am in the process of cleaning it up for some cattle. I am replacing the fence and will then address the two tanks on the property. one is a standard tank dug out with a tractor and receives runoff, the other is a dammed up spring. my problem is both have a large amount of silt. I tried to walk on the edge and sank a good two feet in silt. with all the rains, both are full of water. How do I clean out the silt and deepen the tanks? or any recommendations on who does this? I was told asphalt companies like the silt and will do it for the silt, don't know if it is true.

[Robert D Bard]

I don't know of any reason why an asphalt company
would want silt. In this area they will dig a tanl to get
fill in dirt along the edge of the road after they pave
it - raising the level so there is no drop off.
I know everyone in Texas lets their cattle walk in the
stock ponds and lakes to drink or cool off when it is hot
but the first thing I would do is fence off the tanks and
keep they from getting in the water.
How would you like to drink water where your friends
used the rest room. Also many people have problems
with liver flukes in their cattle when they drink from the
cattles rest room. Their are enough problems with
parasites when we raise grass fed non-chemical beef
with out making the problem worse on purpose. Fence
the tank and let grass grow around the edge of the water
to filter the rain water before it goes into the tank. You
can pump the water out into a stock tank for your animals
good health. You can get more info from the book "Salad
Bar Beef" by Joel Salatin from www.acresusa.com
Robert D Bard