Digging out near the dock & also getting stuck

[Richard]

We’ve had some sediment buildup near our dock. I spoke with our local TVA Watershed Team guy & he told me it was “ok” if I dredged up some of our boat ramp area. He said they not only allowed dock maintenance, they encouraged this. I guess they don’t want sediment to fill up their lake /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Overall the pics aren’t all illustrative as I’d hoped, but you still get an idea. Take notice that the water is well beyond the last pier. For conversation sake (later pics), we’ll call the OUTERMOST pier the first one.

 

[Richard]

Another view of the mush

 

[Richard]

another

 

[Richard]

the waters edge area

 

[fivestring]

Subject title probably says it all.
It looks like a tractor would sink about a foot or so in that muck! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Good luck.

 

[Richard]

My TVA dude told me if I remove any silt, his only “requirement” is that I dispose of it ABOVE the 820’ line, so that it’s above their summer flood plane. I raced home on Friday (week ago) and began

 

[Richard]

I backed Brutus out so the hoe was reaching the waters edge, I scraped (sort of like raking leaves) the top couple of inches of silt towards me into an ever increasing pile. I was under strict ‘advisement’ that I was only to remove sediment, not go nuts and dig trenches. In fact, he preferred I take tractor with box blade out there so I’d be very smooth and “thin” with my spoils movement.

As I raked spoils towards me, this pile grew, so I decided to remove it OUT of the lakebed from time to time. I moved a pile over near the beach (with a rocky base for better support of machine) and I moved Brutus over there to begin to extricate the pile of sediment.

As I went over there, it ended up being like trying to support myself in pudding.

 

[Richard]

this is the pile I was after, once I got stuck, I forgot all about the sediment, and now the only focus was to extricate Brutus. I was told when I began this, they registered the lowest “winter pool” in like 20 years the day before and as of then on, they expect the water to start to rise.

As I tried to move Brutus out, all 4 wheels just sunk into the muck. I used the front bucket to help keep the front tires out of the stuff, but it just sunk in. I tried backing out, using front bucket to push, and THAT was just like trying to push against gooey pudding, a very futile attempt. Finally, I latched a chain against a tree & pulled myself ½ out but still sunk down the instant I put it into drive.

Hooked a cable up to a truck (located on pavement for best traction) and as I expected, I just pulled the truck around like a Tonka toy.

Long story short, I finally got myself out and decided I would ONLY go back onto lakebed with the HOE facing the water, that way I could use the hoe to push myself forward (out).

 

[slowzuki]

Looks like the waters edge near where live. The dog loves running through that slop and sinking in a good foot or so!

 

[Richard]

the pic doesn’t really show perspective, but that is a large pile of muck on the left side.