Clearing 4 acres in North Carolina

[s219]

Ours does the same, from one end to the other and no way around it other than over it......

Now looking at the GIS map for our county it only shows 1 blue dotted water way and classifies it as "Intermittent" and that is actually at the back of our property and not where the driveway goes. So in "theory" I should be ok but will still check it out to be safe!


vizi

That sounds like you're OK. If they don't map it on the public GIS site they probably don't care. Our stream was flagged with striped tape from a previous survey when the land was being divided up for sale, and that survey was used by county staff to give wetland classification to some sections of the property and not others. The GIS maps showed nothing except for the far downstream section where it dumps in a main creek. I e-mailed our county environmental guy about that, and he had access to the old survey plats which were not made public. He was able to confirm our stream was surveyed but classified as an ephemeral stream and that I was OK to proceed with a culvert crossing. I imagine if it was intermittent or wetlands, I would have needed to build a bridge instead (which would have been fine to me, would have been more interesting).

A couple years later, I had a survey firm do a survey to make our site plan. I asked the team lead to make sure they took extra spot elevations to identify the ephemeral stream on my maps, since I wanted to know the exact path for future use (up until then all I did was walk it with hip waders and a GPS to mark the general path). The guy seemed skeptical since he didn't see anything on the county GIS maps, but boy was he surprised to see it in person. You'd never know it's there from official maps, but it's a pretty significant feature to plan around when developing a site for a home.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

Not as cool as a track-hoe but I put a 100 ft of 3/8" cable about 12-15' up a tree and come-a-long it to another tree a ways off. Crank the starch out of it to get the tree to bend and then dig on the back side. Push with the FEL will possibly get it to tip over then. The weight of the tree has tremendous weight to help leverage the root-ball out. Possible dig around the tree first to loosen things up.

I don't recommend that. Accident waiting to happen if cable snaps or anchor tree gives. The whipping action alone could bring down a widow maker on you.

 

[viziers]

That sounds like you're OK. If they don't map it on the public GIS site they probably don't care. Our stream was flagged with striped tape from a previous survey when the land was being divided up for sale, and that survey was used by county staff to give wetland classification to some sections of the property and not others. The GIS maps showed nothing except for the far downstream section where it dumps in a main creek. I e-mailed our county environmental guy about that, and he had access to the old survey plats which were not made public. He was able to confirm our stream was surveyed but classified as an ephemeral stream and that I was OK to proceed with a culvert crossing. I imagine if it was intermittent or wetlands, I would have needed to build a bridge instead (which would have been fine to me, would have been more interesting).

A couple years later, I had a survey firm do a survey to make our site plan. I asked the team lead to make sure they took extra spot elevations to identify the ephemeral stream on my maps, since I wanted to know the exact path for future use (up until then all I did was walk it with hip waders and a GPS to mark the general path). The guy seemed skeptical since he didn't see anything on the county GIS maps, but boy was he surprised to see it in person. You'd never know it's there from official maps, but it's a pretty significant feature to plan around when developing a site for a home.

Yea I was glad to see that I have only one waterway on the GIS mapping as there really 4 dried up creek beds... But i'll probably check with county to make sure as I don't want to end up in a gray 8x6 box...


vizi

 

[David Devuono]

A 4 inch strap, if its a recovery strap brakes at 40,000 lbs. You your guarenteed to break the tree grubber first. I realize that its a lot easier on the equipment then a chain would be. I am a big fan of straps but this is a deadly set up. Much safer would be two chains and an old tire. Tire makes it easy on your tractor and will help to stop a flying tree grubber. Make sure you have an appropriate shield.

 

[viziers]

A 4 inch strap, if its a recovery strap brakes at 40,000 lbs. You your guarenteed to break the tree grubber first. I realize that its a lot easier on the equipment then a chain would be. I am a big fan of straps but this is a deadly set up. Much safer would be two chains and an old tire. Tire makes it easy on your tractor and will help to stop a flying tree grubber. Make sure you have an appropriate shield.

I will need a VERY STRONG shield to stop a flying grubber however Unless I am not attaching it correctly it really only de-barks the trunk and have had better luck taking the end of the strap that has the loop and cinching it around the trunk in a way that as I pull on it it only tightens it's grip more around the trunk and works much better...

but for now I am at a standstill with the tractor as I have been doing some repair/ routine maint on the tractor as for one when I looked inside the tranny fill plug I saw a LOT of water so I have drained the fluid and water and flushed it with diesel fuel and replaced the safety start wire as the rubber grommet was deteriorated.

I also have been waiting for some warmer weather to prime the sheet metal that had significant surface rust but still has good metal behind it and sand blasted it and Osphoed it and just got to epoxy prime it yesterday and hope to topcoat it on Saturday or Sunday as temps will be 60ish..

The only other thing that really needs attention is all 4 tires! front are cheap at 200 for a pair but the rear are more than a paycheck worth...lol They are useable and if I blow one in the woods id rather blow and old tire than a new one.


vizi

 

[viziers]

Here is a bit of an update. So I got the tractor almost all back together but the COoooold weather has put a bit of a halt on that process. So instead here are some pics of the land I am clearing.


Here is one of the private road we will be living on.


The beginning of our driveway which will be moved to the left about 20'. This was all overgrown with small sapling trees and weeds.


Another shot of the beginning of our driveway which is a easement.


Driveway. Also all overgrown and could not be driven down.


Our property marker to the right.




My truck that gets me into the property.




Our driveway which was also completely wooded.




Our property.











Straight ahead is where the driveway runs right throught the down trees from some storm damage.







Stumps that have to be removed from the driveway.







More stumps.



Way ahead is a small creek we have to cross to the house plot.



vizi

 

[viziers]

UPDATE, So I finally found a small logging company to buy the wood. they did a great job and helped take the brush and pile it and burn while they were there. I also helped with the burning and cleanup the best I could (1 man vs skidder machine but unfortunately man never can keep up with it)

I still have a lot of brush to burn and they were able to remove some of the stumps that were in the way and still have a bunch of stumps to remove that are in the range of 3" -15" in diameter. For those I will use an 20k excavator w/thumb to pull the remaining stumps.

To the ones in the know, will a 20k excavator be enough to remove the remaining stumps or is it overkill for the job or not enough for the job at hand??


vizi

 

[Bill Stecik]

Those are little stumps . Anything 8 k and over would be fine . Nice chunk of land . Where are you going to put the still ?

 

[viziers]

Those are little stumps . Anything 8 k and over would be fine . Nice chunk of land . Where are you going to put the still ?

Lol, those are the small stumps. Most of them are 6" to 9" stumps and some are 36"+.. Funny you should suggest a still as there looks to have been a still there a LONG time ago.



vizi