Ditching job

[billypumper]

You said it was a ditch removing water from a roadway to a river, but the pictures indicate it's more of a drainage ditch for the hayfield, if so tile the hayfield

 

[yanmars]

If you want to do the work I hope you get it but I found at times the best jobs I had were the ones I did not get.

 

[billypumper]

Exactly,

 

[Bluetopconstruction]

You guys are talking Dude into a ditch. Unless I have skin in the game as a partner in this project, I wouldn't encourage him to walk off the ledge. I love him too much.

Now, why would Dude be invited to do this ditch job? If I were the property owner, I wouldn't let any contractor, let alone a hay farmer, bid on this work unless he has proven capability. This is a land drainage situation and the topography is involved. A surveyor is needed to determine the slope of the ditch. And even if the pegs are driven to guide the excavation, can the machine operator dig that ditch within tolerance? Imagine letting a hay farmer cut your hair. Only a fool would allow someone to learn on the job.

We all learn on the job. Gotta start somewhere. A good man guarantees his work so he can fix it for free. Haha.

 

[billypumper]

We all learn on the job. Gotta start somewhere. A good man guarantees his work so he can fix it for free. Haha.

No words have spoken more truth, Good luck Dude in all your endeavors.

 

[Hay Dude]

You said it was a ditch removing water from a roadway to a river, but the pictures indicate it's more of a drainage ditch for the hayfield, if so tile the hayfield

It runs through a hayfield to get to the river. Along the way, some smaller ditches empty into it. Tile not an option for customer

 

[Hay Dude]

Sounds like they need to reconsider and put a three or four foot pipeline in place instead of a fifteen x four ft ditch that's going to erode that hayfield like no tomorrow, what are they going to do with all that dirt they excavate, berm the ditch? Should make bailing hay a real task.

See post #13

 

[Hay Dude]

You guys are talking Dude into a ditch. Unless I have skin in the game as a partner in this project, I wouldn't encourage him to walk off the ledge. I love him too much.

Now, why would Dude be invited to do this ditch job? If I were the property owner, I wouldn't let any contractor, let alone a hay farmer, bid on this work unless he has proven capability. This is a land drainage situation and the topography is involved. A surveyor is needed to determine the slope of the ditch. And even if the pegs are driven to guide the excavation, can the machine operator dig that ditch within tolerance? Imagine letting a hay farmer cut your hair. Only a fool would allow someone to learn on the job.

Might be true for new ditches, but only troll wouldn’t read enough to see the ditches already exist.
I get your sarcasm and feeble attempts to put down people who work with their hands and brains.
Instead, try giving advice to fellow clowns on how to tie balloons for kids in the park.

 

[Hay Dude]

If you want to do the work I hope you get it but I found at times the best jobs I had were the ones I did not get.

Could happen. It’s being bid by more than just me.

 

[leonz]

Simpler to just walk away, as once the DEC or DEP get wind of a job
like this they will stop it because it flows into river.

 

[Hay Dude]

Simpler to just walk away, as once the DEC or DEP get wind of a job
like this they will stop it because it flows into river.

The ditches always have flowed into the river.
You think just cleaning/maintaining existing ditches will bring DEP in?
I have language in the contract if any gov or inspections are necessary they pay for expenses/delays.

 

[ovrszd]

The ditches always have flowed into the river.
You think just cleaning/maintaining existing ditches will bring DEP in?
I have language in the contract if any gov or inspections are necessary they pay for expenses/delays.

Maybe post the contract and readers can better understand what's involved?

 

[dodge man]

I’d start with a Cat D9 dozer, then concrete line the ditch or just build a box culvert the entire length. Make sure your team of lawyers reads the small print too.

Haydude by now has figured this thread is long enough that people don’t read all the pages of it and just jump to the end to make a comment. Maybe in the 16 pages there is a little nugget that will actually help.

 

[leonz]

The ditches always have flowed into the river.
You think just cleaning/maintaining existing ditches will bring DEP in?
I have language in the contract if any gov or inspections are necessary they pay for expenses/delays.

I am sure they will get involved because if silt flows into a navigable watercourse
that would be regulated by the DEP/DEC and United States Coast Guard.

 

[Hay Dude]

Ok so now you think the coast guard is going to get involved in a ditch cleaning job?

 

[Fixastuff]

@Hay Dude What is your bucket capacity and cycle time??

 

[Hay Dude]

1.5- 2 yards.
No idea on cycle time statistics.
Lot more concerned about driving distance to berm and ruts to it and back.

And now the Coast Guard lol

 

[jjeff]

Lol interesting replies I'm going to be a Smart-A## and "recommend" using a walking or tracked , dragline for excavation of your ditch project. so bid accordingly. Seriously though I'm following this and am more interested on how this turns out using smaller equipment with minimal collateral damage to the surrounding ground which I believe is what the owner and bidder wants. I ditched the low side of camp-road using a ss with a stump bucket 4 yrs later it still works great like I planned. Using smaller equipment is what I have and is my self proclaimed amateur specialty.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Lol interesting replies I'm going to be a Smart-A## and "recommend" using a walking or tracked , dragline for excavation of your ditch project. so bid accordingly. Seriously though I'm following this and am more interested on how this turns out using smaller equipment with minimal collateral damage to the surrounding ground which I believe is what the owner and bidder wants. I ditched the low side of camp-road using a ss with a stump bucket 4 yrs later it still works great like I planned. Using smaller equipment is what I have and is my self proclaimed amateur specialty.

Get serious, a bucket wheel excavator would be the perfect tool for the job.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

I am sure they will get involved because if silt flows into a navigable watercourse
that would be regulated by the DEP/DEC and United States Coast Guard.IiI

I think it isn’t the Coast Guard, but the Army Corps of Engineers, and whatever agency the state may, or may not have. And, it is a storm water permit, the threshold is how many acres of disturbance you will have. Required mitigation can be pretty simple to a nightmare.

Typically the contractor has to attend a class, to get certified. And there are exclusions in the law for irrigation and a few other things.

Quickest way to find out what you need to do locally to to find the correct Corps office and give them a call. There should be a web page, you get the contact information from.

I dealt with the permitting quite a bit on a past job, but haven’t done anything with it in the last ten years.