I need a price range for cost to dig out a wakeboard lake. I know there are variables so that is why I need a range. Land cost is not part of equation.

TO build a private lake your looking around 1 million give or take on how nice it is. This is info from some past waterski magazine articles. It is about what it cost a group of guys in the Los Banos area when they factored in there costs if they hired out and not used all there own equipment.

It depends, we sold off most of the dirt we dug. We ended up basically having to pay for the final shaping of the lake, shoreline slope to the trench. By selling the dirt, two lakes ended up costing us just under 300K. This price doesn't include streets, underground utilities but the lake cost only. If I do another community, it'll be wakeboard only and the lake(s) will be at least 3000' in lenght, 2200 ft works but it would be nice to get another 3 or 4 tricks in before you have to turn around.

I'm interested in the same thing. Another question... How do you fill the things up? Do you just let nature take its course? I know in Bakersfield, they could drain and fill the lakes from wells.

So I wonder how much it cost to dig Radar Lake, WA with cool things like islands and special banks to dissipate boat wakes? <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/384239.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/384239.jpg</a>

Thanks- someone emailed me who does this type of thing and said the minimum excavation cost you should budget for is $130,000. That is a ski lake. A wakeboard lake should be longer and deeper so I think Craig's numbers of 300,000 for 2 lakes or 150 each is a pretty good benchmark. That is probably flat land and no tree removal or boulders. Just digging and removing the dirt.

Here is an interview with Paul Obrien on Radar Lake. <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.dpcfilms.com/VideoPlayer.asp?i=148" target="_blank">http://www.dpcfilms.com/VideoPlayer.asp?i=148</a>

Our lakes run about 13'-14' deep, we had to clear trees but that was included on the dirt removal bid. We received less money per truck load thus less up front money to come up with. Turn Islands lakes are getting very difficult to get insurance for, there has been several serious injuries and a few deaths caused from skiers running into them.

Roger, the cost of fuel has gone up significantly since we finished our lakes nearly two years ago. I'd add at least another 50K per lake. The second finish contractor lost money on our job due to fuel cost and errors on his part.

thats cool that they are dug 13-14 feet deep for about 300k.... <BR> <BR>so how would you maintain the proper water level?

Andrew, we have a clay liner, when we did bore samples, we knew we had clay about 7-8 feet below the surface, we sold all the good dirt and backfilled the clay from the bottom up all the slopes. We also have a 4" deep well during dry periods which in Florida isn't too often.