Built on sand mining
Excavation Contractors in Blaine, MN
A city where sand dug from ponds raised the ground for new homes.
- Free site visits and written quotes
- Itemized pricing: digging, hauling, fill and restoration
- Gopher State One Call locates before every dig
Sand, Peat and Wetlands
Excavation contractors in Blaine work in a city of 70,222 people (2020), mostly in Anoka County with a small part in Ramsey County. For a long time, sandy soil and abundant wetlands discouraged farming. Then sand mining opened thousands of acres of peat sod farms to development, with sand excavated from ponds used to raise site levels. Blaine led the Twin Cities in new home construction for several years.
Peat and fill
Where sand was placed over former peat or wetland ground, soils under a yard or an addition can be uneven. Organic soil cannot carry a footing; it has to be dug out and replaced with compacted granular fill.
Lakes from sand mining
Sunrise Lake (158 acres), Club West Lake and The Lakes of Blaine development are tied to that sand mining. Laddie Lake, at 77 acres and six feet deep, is the city's only natural lake.
Wetlands
The Blaine Wetland Sanctuary protects 500 acres. Many lots border wetlands, which limits grading and drainage outlets.
Spring water
In sandy and former wetland ground, groundwater rises in spring. Deep digs may need pumping.
Sports center traffic
The National Sports Center and TPC Twin Cities, home of the 3M Open, bring big crowds on event days. We schedule hauling around them.
What we do most in Blaine
- Basement digs and additions
- Drainage near wetlands
- Pool and patio excavation
- Fill and grading
Digging in Blaine: Local Facts
- Sand mining. Sand mining opened thousands of acres of peat sod farms to development; sand from ponds raised site levels.
- Wetlands. Sandy soil and abundant wetlands discouraged early farming; the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary protects 500 acres.
- Lakes. Laddie Lake (77 acres, six feet deep) is the only natural lake; Sunrise Lake covers 158 acres.
- Population. Blaine had 70,222 residents in 2020.
Blaine Questions
Could there be peat under my yard?
In parts of Blaine, yes. We probe before setting footings.
Can you drain into a wetland?
Only within the rules. We find a legal outlet.
Do you bring in fill?
Yes, clean compacted fill where needed.
Do you dig pools?
Yes.
Will my basement dig hit water?
In spring, it might. We plan for it.
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