Building our new dam

[PatrickS2222]

Yes mate, I need to build it yet. Initially I thought I'd wait and see - this dam is filled by the overflow from the first dam. I've seen the flow over its spillway quite a few times, while it's been sizeable it's nothing like you describe. Nevertheless there's still the aspect of debris, which could be quite a bit more of a concern to four 6" pipes, as opposed to one 24" diameter outlet. They'll surely be more prone to becoming blocked by branches and twigs from nearby trees. Therefore I reckon you're correct, it needs to be done as part of the job, so it's there and ready when it's needed. I'll have to build it on the opposite side where the ground slopes away from the dam, and it can be on natural ground. I reckon a generous amount of clay on the end of the bank and some rockmelon-sized stone on the spillway should be sufficient protection against erosion there. I did the same on our first dam after I enlarged it and raised its overflow level by about 2 feet. I could see it didn't appear completed - the bank was only done three-quarters of the way around it, resulting in it overflowing at the natural ground section with about 4 feet of bank above the water level. I built the missing section of bank and lengthened the dam about 25% more. I did this several years ago with that same tracked loader and, while its spillway could only be positioned on the bank in a particular location, the rocks and clay there have almost prevented any erosion at all.
Happy to be able to state the seed and fertiliser has been spread, raked lightly and is now awaiting tomorrow's forecast (hopefully light) rain! :thumbsup:
Finished one hour after dark ..... with a head-torch! :laughing: I must also add our daughter was a great help in all this, but I had to rake it in so she could finish some homework. I also ran the 135 along the lower edge a few times just to press the soil a little, in case it began to wash away - might help a little.
Also, yes, I'll also be happy when grass is growing. :thumbsup:

 

[coldsteelva]

Any thought to sinking a debris fence to the entry side of those pipes to perhaps catch some of the branches, etc. that could become a potential blockage?

 

[PatrickS2222]

You must have read my mind ..... I've saved a length of chicken-mesh about 2 feet high and planned to use it for that very purpose!

 

[jimmysisson]

My small pond I put a 90 elbow facing up on the pond end. Some debris catches there but you can see it to remove. It also sets the level of the water. I couldn't use a spillway in my setup. Jim

 

[bindian]

Any thought to sinking a debris fence to the entry side of those pipes to perhaps catch some of the branches, etc. that could become a potential blockage?

A debris fence a little in front of the pipes sounds like a good idea. But you have clean it doing a flood, or you could find the fence swep into the end of the pipes. I have hardware cloth (1/2 inch mesh) over the overflow pipe (vertical opening) and it is always clogged with 1 inch debris and twigs, which traps more and more until little flows out.
hugs, Brandi

 

[PatrickS2222]

Both ideas are good, however I believe in my case it would be a benefit to stop any sticks and branches with maybe a 2"x2" mesh screen across that corner - it would need to be about 15 feet long and around 12" high, but it should allow leaves etc to pass through and out the pipes. This won't block them, and I feel it's preferable to allow leaves to escape, rather than keeping them in there to rot in the water. Twigs and branches should I expect become caught in the mesh, and then easily removed later - it just means walking into 6-8" water in that area, as the pipes are right up the back in the shallow end. I can still add some smaller mesh if required - even plastic "gutter-guard" mesh for roof guttering or something similar. :drink:

It's 10.15pm local time and the first few drops of forecast rain are beginning to fall. They forecasted showers this afternoon - better late than never. Just now watching tomorrow's forecast - showers and rain - just hope it isn't heavy rain. Expect around 3/4 to 1 inch tomorrow, then clearing to a few days of fine weather.

I also just have to add my expression of appreciation and gratitude for all the advice, suggestions, assistance and comments that have been added during this project. I am really quite thankful for everyone's input and am well aware that it's a two-way street (I do as much as I can to help others). :thumbsup:

While it's not far from finished, there is still some tidying-up and finalisation to do, and the usual "fiddling, fettling and finessing" we seem to insist on when it's one's own home work/job. Things will seem to slow down because there's just not much to report other than "I'm (hopefully) watching grass grow" or "it's got some water in it". I'll put some fresh pics up as things become progressively greener/fuller.

I'm also astounded there's been well over 3400 views so far - I wouldn't have guessed a hole in the ground could generate even mild interest, but I also understand we're not as apathetic and selfish as a lot of other people. :cloud9:

 

[bindian]

Both ideas are good, however I believe in my case it would be a benefit to stop any sticks and branches with maybe a 2"x2" mesh screen across that corner - it would need to be about 15 feet long and around 12" high, but it should allow leaves etc to pass through and out the pipes. This won't block them, and I feel it's preferable to allow leaves to escape, rather than keeping them in there to rot in the water. Twigs and branches should I expect become caught in the mesh, and then easily removed later - it just means walking into 6-8" water in that area, as the pipes are right up the back in the shallow end. I can still add some smaller mesh if required - even plastic "gutter-guard" mesh for roof guttering or something similar. :drink:

It's 10.15pm local time and the first few drops of forecast rain are beginning to fall. They forecasted showers this afternoon - better late than never. Just now watching tomorrow's forecast - showers and rain - just hope it isn't heavy rain. Expect around 3/4 to 1 inch tomorrow, then clearing to a few days of fine weather.

I also just have to add my expression of appreciation and gratitude for all the advice, suggestions, assistance and comments that have been added during this project. I am really quite thankful for everyone's input and am well aware that it's a two-way street (I do as much as I can to help others). :thumbsup:

While it's not far from finished, there is still some tidying-up and finalisation to do, and the usual "fiddling, fettling and finessing" we seem to insist on when it's one's own home work/job. Things will seem to slow down because there's just not much to report other than "I'm (hopefully) watching grass grow" or "it's got some water in it". I'll put some fresh pics up as things become progressively greener/fuller.

I'm also astounded there's been well over 3400 views so far - I wouldn't have guessed a hole in the ground could generate even mild interest, but I also understand we're not as apathetic and selfish as a lot of other people. :cloud9:

Well..................your the Star from down under!
hugs, Brandi

 

[PatrickS2222]

Ha Ha Far from it mate! :laughing: That's a fraction of the view count compared to a lot of other, much more informative or important threads. Additionally, the result would not have been anywhere near what it is without the advice I've received from this site. As I stated above and elsewhere - there are a multitude of very knowledgeable and helpful people here. Thank you to all once more. :thumbsup:

On an equally bright note, I've checked out the condition of things and, after 19mm (3/4") of light rain and showers over 24 hours, every drop appears to have soaked in without one grain of soil being moved at all! Fine and sunny days forecast for next week or so. Now we wait for a green tinge to appear!

 

[bindian]

Ha Ha Far from it mate! :laughing: That's a fraction of the view count compared to a lot of other, much more informative or important threads. Additionally, the result would not have been anywhere near what it is without the advice I've received from this site. As I stated above and elsewhere - there are a multitude of very knowledgeable and helpful people here. Thank you to all once more. :thumbsup:

On an equally bright note, I've checked out the condition of things and, after 19mm (3/4") of light rain and showers over 24 hours, every drop appears to have soaked in without one grain of soil being moved at all! Fine and sunny days forecast for next week or so. Now we wait for a green tinge to appear!

Well, sounds like you got the right amount of rain for seeding grass. Glad to hear that.
hugs, Brandi

 

[PatrickS2222]

Well, sounds like you got the right amount of rain for seeding grass. Glad to hear that.
hugs, Brandi

Yes mate, the top 5-6" was nice and damp. Just watching for a green tinge now, otherwise I haven't done any more work there. Thought I should put some into getting some garden beds ready - spring is almost here! :thumbsup: