Gully through the property

[fishdoggy]

I am purchasing 20 acres of wooded hillside that has a building site but it is 200 feet from a gully. The gully is not more than 10 feet at the widest spot and not more than 6 feet at the deepest and no running water in it. It may have formed 40 years ago and will not get worse for another 40 years. What kind of options are there for something like this?

 

[deserteagle71]

I would be asking myself what made that gully. If it was running water then for sure don't fill up the gully because the next time water comes through there it will have to find a new channel - somewhere you may not want it!

 

[EddieWalker]

The issue with a gully is that if you fill it, the soil will be softer then the surrounding soil, so it will wash away when you get a heavy rain.

In order to stop this, you need something in there to hold the soil in place. Busted up concrete works great for this. It slows down the water and allows the soil to build up behind it.

Depending on the length of the ditch, you should build up several "dams" of broken up concrete or large rocks to hold the dirt in place and slow down the water.

On my land, I also use used and broken bricks, cinder blocks and even tile from jobs that I've worked on. I just keep building it up until I'm at the height of the surrounding soil. Most of the time I don't even need to add dirt, it just starts filling up on its own.

 

[Rockbadchild]

what are you asking exactly ?

 

[fishdoggy]

Asking about options, I like the several dams in it to slow down the water and fill in with the runoff soil over time.

 

[scootr]

Search and analyze flood water plains in that area. Ask some neighbors who must have the same ditch when and how much water they have seen in it.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Asking about options, I like the several dams in it to slow down the water and fill in with the runoff soil over time.

Your asking for options but you have no intention or goal stated, you have stated facts without issues... so I read this and I don't know what kind of options I should suggest.... just trying to make it clear for me and everyone else to properly help you.

 

[Tinhack]

I would make it a "feature". It's there by some cause. Perhaps runoff from a higher elevation or a long-ago rift. I would use the feature to protect other parts of the property. I have a natural "gully" that runs about 7-800 feet along the back and western boundary. It turns out to be a good drainage diversion off the property behind me and into the property to the west. I was glad to have it when we got 8-10" of rain from a hurricane years ago. I got my tractor stuck in the mud in it weeks after. I had to get the dozer to pull it out. I don't do much mowing in that area anymore. It's pretty wild and a good habitat for wildlife.

Perhaps as you say, a few rock dams to slow erosion and provide temporary watering holes.

 

[fishdoggy]

My goal is to not let it get worse, have thought about ranchers that capture water for cattle, then pump it where the cattle are. No plans for that, but I have seen the ponds they create for that.

 

[EddieWalker]

The amount of water running through the ditch doesn't really matter. What creates ditches, and makes them hard to fill is the speed that the water is going.

Slow it down and the erosion will slow down. Eventually you should be able to get it to the point that it's all flat and grass will protect the soil.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Thanks,

Is the current gully has smooth sides that goes into it ? or there's already sign of erosion ? what is the soil type ? deep roots vegetation dose wonder to hold banks, rocks works, dams can create problems on their own but they are a options with a proper profile and locations.... for erosion the biggest worry is the outside corners.

 

[garry1p]

will not get worse for another 40 years

So why bother if it won't get worse for 40 years?

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

If you want you could dam it up build a retention pond complete with a spill way. Toss in a few fishes and see how it goes. Or leave it dammed up and see how many skeeters you can raise.

Or, become a prepper. You're partial way to putting in an storm/fallout shelter. Get an excavator, dig it down put in a shipping container. Cover back up with dirt and start storing supplies in it.

Or just do nothing... 200 ft away from a structure would take an awful long time to get larger, provided you don't have a hurricane or other storm drop several inches of rain. Even then, that will probably be the least of your concerns.

 

[sreeb]

Traditionally, fill it with junk cars and pile some dirt on top.

 

[jyoutz]

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a lot of information about gully erosion rehabilitation treatments and design plans for doing this work. Their service is free. Start by contacting your local office.

 

[newbury]

Traditionally, fill it with junk cars and pile some dirt on top.

That must be a California thing. In Mississippi they fill it with cast off appliances and tires for erosion control.

 

[bigtiller]

I am purchasing 20 acres of wooded hillside that has a building site but it is 200 feet from a gully. The gully is not more than 10 feet at the widest spot and not more than 6 feet at the deepest and no running water in it. It may have formed 40 years ago and will not get worse for another 40 years. What kind of options are there for something like this?

So, it is ~ 10' wide and 6' deep. How long and how steep is it?

 

[jyoutz]

Traditionally, fill it with junk cars and pile some dirt on top.

 

[Deere Dude]

I am purchasing 20 acres of wooded hillside that has a building site but it is 200 feet from a gully. The gully is not more than 10 feet at the widest spot and not more than 6 feet at the deepest and no running water in it. It may have formed 40 years ago and will not get worse for another 40 years. What kind of options are there for something like this?

On the side I do NOT water eat away earth, I would make a bank of 45 degrees. Then I would line it with cattle fencing or metal screening and then cover it with stones about 12"-24" in diameter and pack it tight. Anything to keep your good side stable. Just my opinion and what I did.

In 2013 I bought a house and garage next to a creekbed like yours only 40' away. It was dry, until it wasn't. We had 8" of rain upstream a mile or so and it washed the banks banks back toward the house and I got very worried. I had a cat come in and reform the banks. Then the next year, 2015, had another gully washer and ripped it all out again. Thinking it was going to happen again I did what I suggested earlier, Every year we get rain enough to tear it up but the rocks keep my side stable. I also drove some tposts in and ran 5' of tough horse or cattle fencing along the 300 feet that concerns me. That was to catch boulders that might wash loose and get carried away.

So far we haven't had anything it couldn't handle, but I know it may be dry today but evry year it will get maybe a foot of water washing through. If 5' of water comes through I will be screwed.

 

[dodge man]

I’d leave it alone. Why mess with it? If you’re worried about erosion you can address that when it happens with rip rap. Rip rap is the small round rocks a little smaller than bowling balls.