My creek is clogged - What would you do?

[DKCDKC]

I'll go with Gunny. Rig up a grappling hook on a long chain or cable - some rental places actually carry such things - toss it out to snag trees laying across the flow and use your tractor to remove. One or two out will clear the jam. I have a similar but slightly smaller stream and I use a 25 foot chain and a length of cable both. I usually do it in the spring when it's warmer. You're in Tennessee and I can't imaging you have any more rigid rules than we do in Virginia. The conservation folks here encourage removal of barriers because - in floods - they cause more erosion of the banks.

Some years back I wanted to build a dam across the stream. At the advice of an engineer friend, I applied to the Army Corps of Engineers, they could barely find my creek on their maps and told me to do whatever I wanted. I kept their letter in case of future challenge. Local folks had no rules on dams, so I put it in and it still stands... Although it has silted up some.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Winch cable(chain), a boat anchor and start pulling little by little at it with tractor,let it float away. If you got a dip net would catch those plastic bottles...

 

[tow653]

Call the Robertsons from Duck Dynasty,they like blowing things up!

 

[tractchores]

I think a BH or excavator would be ideal, but if those aren't available a chain or cable on a few of the bigger logs to just break them lose would work. You can also cut them from a boat or something. Be VERY careful if you venture in the stream in its swollen state, log jams + strong current are a death trap. I think pulling straight out will be most effective if stuff is wedged in there, getting a big log or two on the bottom would probably dislodge the rest.

 

[Depmandog]

Well, I am not going say it couldn't be done with a cable and grapple...and I might even give it a try because I am as stubborn and cheap as the next guy. That said, a trackhoe with a thumb would make short work of this and would be my tool of choice.

I know of dozens of demo companies right now that are slow for work. And around here, most of the dirt boys are sidelined because the ground is frozen. What I am saying - you can get this done for cheap right now.

If you want to be adventuresome, you can rent the trackhoe for a day and have some fun yourself!

This is the last one we rented. It was a nice one

 

[hosspuller]

Pull an easy to grab log with a chain & tractor. Wait a day. The water is a powerful force. Pull another log. Wait a day again.

Repeat as needed. There'a a game that's sold by Parker Brothers. You have the full sized version.

 

[MossRoad]

Anything I need to consider that I haven't thought of?

Just remember that moving water is incredibly powerful. If the flow of water is, say 3 miles per hour in a 20' wide section and you somehow manage to block off 10' of it with a log, the speed will double in the new 10' wide stream instantly. The force of the water, however, will not double. It will quadruple. I'd say if you're going to start pulling logs, wait for the lowest, slowest water flow just to be safe.

 

[cqaigy2]

Just remember that moving water is incredibly powerful. If the flow of water is, say 3 miles per hour in a 20' wide section and you somehow manage to block off 10' of it with a log, the speed will double in the new 10' wide stream instantly. The force of the water, however, will not double. It will quadruple. I'd say if you're going to start pulling logs, wait for the lowest, slowest water flow just to be safe.

That's a good point, hate to think your hooked up and have to jump off the tractor while it's getting pulled into the creek.

 

[Pilot]

The debris and the water it holds back is a serious threat to your road crossing.

in 1964 there was a huge flood in Oregon, Washington and northern California. Lots of bridges were washed out when logs piled up against the support and captured smaller logs and debris making a dam and with all that water, the bridges gave way. After that, loggers were required to clear debris out of streams. Later, fisheries people said, "Those logs make fish habitat, you gotta leave them in the streams!" and loggers had to leave any tree that could possibly fall into a stream. So now we are set up for losing lots of bridges in the next 1964 flood.

I would be very careful about any work on it while the water is high. Moss is right. If you must do it while the water is high, I suggest starting with small logs on the upstream side. You don't want it all to give way at once. Best to wait until the water is low.

 

[Pharm]

Thanks for the input.

I think a trackhoe would work - but I worry about it's ability to get to the area it needs to clear. It's on a pretty high creek bank and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to get too close with heavy equipment.

I'm not too worried about flooding after clearing the debris. This creek is far from roads ... almost 2 miles downstream and the next property to me is over half a mile - and it's my cousin. Plus there are some more debris areas further downstream. This one is the only one causing a problem.

I'm definitely leaning toward the winch and cable solution - but I'm afraid to use my tractor. My Massey Ferguson is pretty heavy and probably could do the job - but I don't want to get in a situation where I'm being pulled instead of pulling - at least until it can see what I have under the smaller debris.

I'm probably going to try to use a come-a-long with a cable and winch a log from a large tree on the bank. I'll post again when it's done and let you know what worked. I'm definitely waiting until the water's lower and warmer. Maybe I'll get lucky and the floods will get it done - procrastination does work for me sometimes. :thumbsup: