Damming small creek isn't working
- Thread starter widmn
- Start date
- Views: 7455
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Re: Damming small creek isn\'t working
The problem with daming up moving water is that it never gives up trying to destroy what you built. Even large government dam projects fail from time to time. Water is extremly aggressive and destructive.
You need to go back and think of building it twice as strong as you think it needs to be, than double it up again.
Depending on the worse case scenerio, you have to have a path for the overflow to go that can handle this situation. For some reason, the worse weather alwasy happens right after you build something!!!
Rock isn't a good material for dams anyway. Clay is the best for earthen dams. Rock is good for rip-rap. You put it on top of the dam at water line. It cuts down on the erosion from the waves hitting the dam. If you have animals the dig into your dam, it's also good at stoping or minimixing this.
In California, beavers are terrible at digging into the levies along the Sacramento delta. They use huge chunks of concrete to protect it, but still have failures after some really bad storms.
Good luck,
Eddie
The problem with daming up moving water is that it never gives up trying to destroy what you built. Even large government dam projects fail from time to time. Water is extremly aggressive and destructive.
You need to go back and think of building it twice as strong as you think it needs to be, than double it up again.
Depending on the worse case scenerio, you have to have a path for the overflow to go that can handle this situation. For some reason, the worse weather alwasy happens right after you build something!!!
Rock isn't a good material for dams anyway. Clay is the best for earthen dams. Rock is good for rip-rap. You put it on top of the dam at water line. It cuts down on the erosion from the waves hitting the dam. If you have animals the dig into your dam, it's also good at stoping or minimixing this.
In California, beavers are terrible at digging into the levies along the Sacramento delta. They use huge chunks of concrete to protect it, but still have failures after some really bad storms.
Good luck,
Eddie
thatguy
Elite Member
Re: Damming small creek isn\'t working
Beware... Here in VA you have to get all sorts of environment permits to modify a river/creek.. In VA you may have to go to the Dept of Tranportation, Dept Enviromental Quality, and/or the US Corps of Engineers.
Big fines if you get caught, even if you didnt realize it was wrong..
just so you dont get in trouble.. Relates to actions done the thread "neighbors, what can you do with them"
Brian
Beware... Here in VA you have to get all sorts of environment permits to modify a river/creek.. In VA you may have to go to the Dept of Tranportation, Dept Enviromental Quality, and/or the US Corps of Engineers.
Big fines if you get caught, even if you didnt realize it was wrong..
just so you dont get in trouble.. Relates to actions done the thread "neighbors, what can you do with them"
Brian
Highbeam
Super Member
Re: Damming small creek isn\'t working
Dam it!
Dam it!
ns_in_tex
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2002
- Messages
- 914
- Location
- East Texas
- Tractor
- Kubota L4610 HSTC, International 2400, Hesston 1280,
Re: Damming small creek isn\'t working
I think you are supposed to use sticks, twigs, leaves & an few tree limbs. At least that appears to be what the beavers do around here.
Feel free to come borrow some from my place. They seem to be pretty good engineers. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I think you are supposed to use sticks, twigs, leaves & an few tree limbs. At least that appears to be what the beavers do around here.
Feel free to come borrow some from my place. They seem to be pretty good engineers. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
PineRidge
Super Member
Re: Damming small creek isn\'t working
We've got a pack of them here also. Today I was out looking at all the damage to the trees that the've cut to make their dam and hut. What really amazes me is that this particular beaver dam has to be 9-12 foot high. I can't figure how these rodents move such a large amount of material without the use of a tractor????? The wife and I have never heard so much as a single tree fall in the 6 years that we've been here, yet they must be felling them on a daily basis. They must not yell timber very loud is all I can guess. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We've got a pack of them here also. Today I was out looking at all the damage to the trees that the've cut to make their dam and hut. What really amazes me is that this particular beaver dam has to be 9-12 foot high. I can't figure how these rodents move such a large amount of material without the use of a tractor????? The wife and I have never heard so much as a single tree fall in the 6 years that we've been here, yet they must be felling them on a daily basis. They must not yell timber very loud is all I can guess. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
JimR
Elite Member
Re: Damming small creek isn\'t working
The trick is to keep the water on the other side. I have a dam behind my house on a man made pond. The back drops off about 5 feet below the water level. Here is how they built this dam. First, they installed a pipe with a large valve underground to let the water flow. Then they built a stone wall along where the dam ws going to be. Where the pipe was they made a spillway out of cement and above the pipe. The next layer on the water side was plain old dirt to fill in the rocks and make it smooth. Next layer was made from clay to make the wall impervious to water. Then the last layer was plain old dirt. The backside of the dam was also filled in with plain dirt. The valve was shutoff and the pond filled up. This dam has been in place since the 1940's. It did spring one leak due to to critters digging into the dam. They were dispersed by me. My farmer friend and I repaired the dam.
The trick is to keep the water on the other side. I have a dam behind my house on a man made pond. The back drops off about 5 feet below the water level. Here is how they built this dam. First, they installed a pipe with a large valve underground to let the water flow. Then they built a stone wall along where the dam ws going to be. Where the pipe was they made a spillway out of cement and above the pipe. The next layer on the water side was plain old dirt to fill in the rocks and make it smooth. Next layer was made from clay to make the wall impervious to water. Then the last layer was plain old dirt. The backside of the dam was also filled in with plain dirt. The valve was shutoff and the pond filled up. This dam has been in place since the 1940's. It did spring one leak due to to critters digging into the dam. They were dispersed by me. My farmer friend and I repaired the dam.
Re: Damming small creek isn\'t working
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The trick is to keep the water on the other side. I have a dam behind my house on a man made pond. The back drops off about 5 feet below the water level. Here is how they built this dam. First, they installed a pipe with a large valve underground to let the water flow. Then they built a stone wall along where the dam ws going to be. Where the pipe was they made a spillway out of cement. The next layer on the water side was plain old dirt to fill in the rocks and make it smooth. Next layer was made from clay to make the wall impervious to water. Then the last layer was plain old dirt. The backside of the dam was also filled in with plain dirt. The valve was shutoff and the pond filled up. This **** has been in place since the 1940's. It did spring one leak due to to critters digging intot he ****. They were dispersed by me. My farmer friend and I repaired the dam. )</font>
When they made the spillway, was it just above the pipe with the valve? Does the water ever exceed the spillways capacity?
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The trick is to keep the water on the other side. I have a dam behind my house on a man made pond. The back drops off about 5 feet below the water level. Here is how they built this dam. First, they installed a pipe with a large valve underground to let the water flow. Then they built a stone wall along where the dam ws going to be. Where the pipe was they made a spillway out of cement. The next layer on the water side was plain old dirt to fill in the rocks and make it smooth. Next layer was made from clay to make the wall impervious to water. Then the last layer was plain old dirt. The backside of the dam was also filled in with plain dirt. The valve was shutoff and the pond filled up. This **** has been in place since the 1940's. It did spring one leak due to to critters digging intot he ****. They were dispersed by me. My farmer friend and I repaired the dam. )</font>
When they made the spillway, was it just above the pipe with the valve? Does the water ever exceed the spillways capacity?
Dk45_Jeff
Silver Member
Re: Damming small creek isn\'t working
<font color="blue"> Beware... Here in VA you have to get all sorts of environment permits to modify a river/creek.. In VA you may have to go to the Dept of Tranportation, Dept Enviromental Quality, and/or the US Corps of Engineers. </font>
Huh, were you damming a navigable waterway or flooding a large wetland? Virginia's rules are fairly relaxed, at least in my county, they just follow the state dam safety program (Virginia dam safety program). If it doesn't effect wetlands and the pond is either exempt from the act or to be used for agricultural purposes the county does not even require a permit.
<font color="blue"> Beware... Here in VA you have to get all sorts of environment permits to modify a river/creek.. In VA you may have to go to the Dept of Tranportation, Dept Enviromental Quality, and/or the US Corps of Engineers. </font>
Huh, were you damming a navigable waterway or flooding a large wetland? Virginia's rules are fairly relaxed, at least in my county, they just follow the state dam safety program (Virginia dam safety program). If it doesn't effect wetlands and the pond is either exempt from the act or to be used for agricultural purposes the county does not even require a permit.
PineRidge
Super Member
Re: Damming small creek isn\'t working
<font color="blue"> When they made the spillway, was it just above the pipe with the valve? Does the water ever exceed the spillways capacity? </font>
This is one of the reasons that a pond needs a bit of good planning. An emergency spillway will divert water away, and around the dam in extreme conditions so the the dam itelf is not damaged by water running over the top.
<font color="blue"> When they made the spillway, was it just above the pipe with the valve? Does the water ever exceed the spillways capacity? </font>
This is one of the reasons that a pond needs a bit of good planning. An emergency spillway will divert water away, and around the dam in extreme conditions so the the dam itelf is not damaged by water running over the top.
