Best way to route/trench water with an ATV?

[boostmg]

Hey guys i have water on my property and I also have the beginnings of a creek. It want's to be a full creek that connects into a large creek, it's just obstructed. This spring I plan on unobstructing certain parts manually. The second part is that I have to route water from the sources to this creek as they follow no pattern right now.

All I really need to to is dig out a rough path for the water to go (for reference water has been following just my quad tracks quite well). I was thinking of using a tool like this to put on the quad and maybe tear a line to where i want the water to go https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Attachments-Hitch-Mounted-Ripper/dp/B074MJBD7R/ref=asc_df_B074MJBD7R/

It would be great to hear others thoughts on possible solutions.

 

[dalola]

Not sure an ATV would have the weight/traction/power to be very effective.

I would probably rent a mini excavator for a day.

 

[boostmg]

Not sure an ATV would have the weight/traction/power to be very effective.

I would probably rent a mini excavator for a day.

To start I don't think I need any major depth ... I would try to take like 2-3 inches off the top .. and maybe 3-6 inches wide ... and that should do the trick to let the water erode the rest away.

I could also be totally wrong. But that was going to be my first attempt


Edit: Also it's really wet... which I forgot to mention .. so it's hard for anything to get in there besides and ATV

 

[CobyRupert]

I've opened up trenches/creeks (streams) with my ATV. (i.e. turned swamp land into a flowing creek.)
Never used an attachment.
I just cut the brush so that I could drive with one tire right in the steam bed. Doing this repeatedly, especially in the muddy season soon establishes a trail and ruts. Once the water is flowing in the ruts it does a good job of keeping itself a channel.

 

[boostmg]

I've opened up trenches/creeks (streams) with my ATV. (i.e. turned swamp land into a flowing creek.)
Never used an attachment.
I just cut the brush so that I could drive with one tire right in the steam bed. Doing this repeatedly, especially in the muddy season soon establishes a trail and ruts. Once the water is flowing in the ruts it does a good job of keeping itself a channel.

That's exactly what I have to do!!!!!!

How long have you had it this way? What has happened to the "ruts" you made over time?

Right now I am just realizing how to fix this issue .. so I have some ruts already made but they aren't going where I want. So the plan as I mentioned above is step #1, create a free flowing stream by unobstructing roadblocks .... then step #2 just divert the water with my ruts into the stream.

 

[tcreeley]

I've done a lot of trenching drainage ditches with my mini backhoe. I found the best way was to pay attention to the slope of the drainage ditch, always making sure that the drainage ditch was dropping as it went along - to keep the water flowing. This was important where it cut into other ditches. I'd figure my low points and high points and decide how much I needed to drop. If I dug too deep, I had a wet pocket. If I dug too little I had an obstruction and a wet pocket above that.
I used a David White level like this one. (I used it for building as well.)
David White L6-2 22X Power Optical Meridian Level - 44-D8824 - EngineerSupply

 

[bigtiller]

I would get in there with a cutter mattock and do it by hand.

 

[CobyRupert]

That's exactly what I have to do!!!!!!

How long have you had it this way? What has happened to the "ruts" you made over time?

Right now I am just realizing how to fix this issue .. so I have some ruts already made but they aren't going where I want. So the plan as I mentioned above is step #1, create a free flowing stream by unobstructing roadblocks .... then step #2 just divert the water with my ruts into the stream.

I've done this in my former pond (turned into horse pasture) for several years. It was swampy where the water "meandered" through, now my tire tracks have turned it into a channel/stream and one can walk up to the edge of channel and jump over it instead of sinking in mud within 20'.

Downstream (and actually on neighbors land) I did the same thing. He was building ATV trails so I "helped him" (as it helps me drain my land) and cleared all the brush from the stream/marsh bed. Just having 6" deep ruts really helps keep the water flowing. My city-slicker brother-in-law came to visit and wanted to ride the ATV so I sent him to "clear the channel", cause it's the muddiest place and most fun. He did a good job. Totally trashed (in mud) my 4 wheeler. But turned off "the stream" track too early and now water is going where it forms a marsh area. No problem to fix come this spring.

Here's first time driving through. The "channel" area starts around 0:40 secs. Channel is a lot more defined now after multiple trips.
First ride through - YouTube

I thought about buying an old "horse drawn" plow and towing it behind the 4 wheeler, or using my logging winch to pull it from 165' away through the marsh. Like you said, some of these places you can barely walk through without it sucking the boots off your feet, and can't drive through (except ATV). But so far just making tracks works

 

[Industrial Toys]

A tire rut is a trench? Am I missing something.

That ripper on an ATV, is a video I would love to watch. Then, see a copy of the repair bill for the ATV.

 

[CobyRupert]

A tire rut is a trench? Am I missing something.

Ehhh...if it's in the right spot....and works...it is!

(....or spend the $100-$200 per hour (and drop off/pick up min. fees, etc..) for an excavator...)

Sometimes tire ruts get ALOT deeper than the 2"-3" channel the OP wants.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Or you could just scrape the heal of your boot along. This avoids the obvious second redundant tire trench.

 

[turnkey4099]

If you have a neighbor with a tractor and plow, just have him cut a furrow down where you want it. Of course do it while not getting stuck. A 1 bottom plow would be ideal but anything more that that will still leave one open furrow.

 

[boostmg]

I've done this in my former pond (turned into horse pasture) for several years. It was swampy where the water "meandered" through, now my tire tracks have turned it into a channel/stream and one can walk up to the edge of channel and jump over it instead of sinking in mud within 20'.

Downstream (and actually on neighbors land) I did the same thing. He was building ATV trails so I "helped him" (as it helps me drain my land) and cleared all the brush from the stream/marsh bed. Just having 6" deep ruts really helps keep the water flowing. My city-slicker brother-in-law came to visit and wanted to ride the ATV so I sent him to "clear the channel", cause it's the muddiest place and most fun. He did a good job. Totally trashed (in mud) my 4 wheeler. But turned off "the stream" track too early and now water is going where it forms a marsh area. No problem to fix come this spring.

Here's first time driving through. The "channel" area starts around 0:40 secs. Channel is a lot more defined now after multiple trips.
First ride through - YouTube

I thought about buying an old "horse drawn" plow and towing it behind the 4 wheeler, or using my logging winch to pull it from 165' away through the marsh. Like you said, some of these places you can barely walk through without it sucking the boots off your feet, and can't drive through (except ATV). But so far just making tracks works

Me and you are in very similar situations. I thought about that plow idea as well.

The way I see it ... this whole thing has to happen in phases. Getting any type of machine there now is a no go which is why the ATV is one of the only options.

The tire rut .. or a similar type trench with some tool seems like the required baby step #1 to at least control hopefully most of the water and let the rest of the land dry up.

Step 2 seems like when the land is dried up, you can do more official fixes with heavier machinery if needed.

 

[Jchonline]

A tire rut is a trench? Am I missing something.

That ripper on an ATV, is a video I would love to watch. Then, see a copy of the repair bill for the ATV.

Agree. For the price of any tool you would need on the ATV to provide a long term solution, just rent a mini ex and do it right.

 

[CobyRupert]

Me and you are in very similar situations. I thought about that plow idea as well.

The way I see it ... this whole thing has to happen in phases. Getting any type of machine there now is a no go which is why the ATV is one of the only options.

The tire rut .. or a similar type trench with some tool seems like the required baby step #1 to at least control hopefully most of the water and let the rest of the land dry up.

Step 2 seems like when the land is dried up, you can do more official fixes with heavier machinery if needed.

Well, excavators can go some amazing places too; and if it's too much for them they can just change the landscape by either draining down or building up. Pricey though.

Yes. I'll waiting for a "dry year" or like you said, when the surrounding area has been made more drier by the trench, to then get the tractor and brush mower in there.

...but I'm also thinking that I might be able to get in there with a tractor and brush hog once the ground is frozen; if there's not too much snow. That is, if there's not too much snow for the mower to cut low enough. I realize most people in upstate NY don't mow in January, but make hay when sun is shining, err...the snow is flying....whatever.....

It'll be interesting to see exactly when and how much of the ground around the channel freezes compared to the surrounding area.

 

[FTG-05]

Hey guys i have water on my property and I also have the beginnings of a creek. It want's to be a full creek that connects into a large creek, it's just obstructed. This spring I plan on unobstructing certain parts manually. The second part is that I have to route water from the sources to this creek as they follow no pattern right now.

All I really need to to is dig out a rough path for the water to go (for reference water has been following just my quad tracks quite well). I was thinking of using a tool like this to put on the quad and maybe tear a line to where i want the water to go https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Attachments-Hitch-Mounted-Ripper/dp/B074MJBD7R/ref=asc_df_B074MJBD7R/

It would be great to hear others thoughts on possible solutions.

If it's like you say and how you want to do it, I would use that thing in a heart beat.

The good part is that you're not limited to an ATV: you could use a UTV, small tractor, small truck, almost anything that will get back there.

Good luck!

 

[boostmg]

Well, excavators can go some amazing places too; and if it's too much for them they can just change the landscape by either draining down or building up. Pricey though.

Yes. I'll waiting for a "dry year" or like you said, when the surrounding area has been made more drier by the trench, to then get the tractor and brush mower in there.

...but I'm also thinking that I might be able to get in there with a tractor and brush hog once the ground is frozen; if there's not too much snow. That is, if there's not too much snow for the mower to cut low enough. I realize most people in upstate NY don't mow in January, but make hay when sun is shining, err...the snow is flying....whatever.....

It'll be interesting to see exactly when and how much of the ground around the channel freezes compared to the surrounding area.

We bought a tow behind flail mower from China to mow this area. The water level varies .. but you can tell even the parts we mowed allowed for the flow of water to go there vs the higher sections.

If it's like you say and how you want to do it, I would use that thing in a heart beat.

The good part is that you're not limited to an ATV: you could use a UTV, small tractor, small truck, almost anything that will get back there.

Good luck!

For sure thank you! .. Going to try the tire method first and see what happens.

 

[otlski]

In this particular order...
Go to Craigslist, sell your ATV
Go to Craigslist, buy a Ditchwitch
Do your trenching
Go to Craigslist, sell your Ditchwitch
Go to Craigslist, buy an ATV

 

[Jstpssng]

Don't underestimate the footprint of an excavator. They may be heavier, but the track spreads the weight out over a larger area. I have gotten my ATV stuck- bad- in a spot where the lag tracks of a 20 ton machine walked right over.