Drainage Problem/Watering Solution

[rifflerunner]

Hi, my name is Jim and I have converted from a lurker to a new member. I have gained much insight here from buying my first tractor to completing projects and want to thank all who have made this such a great informative site. I will try to do likewise.

I will try to make this short.....I have recently purchased 130 acres of which roughly 10 acres is overgrown field and my first project in the spring will be to convert this to pasture and build a barn. On the top end of the pasture a spring runs across a logging road into a 3x4 by 4 foot deep hole I dug(playing) and then runs thru the pasture about 100 feet or so to a drainage down a side hill. This area in the pasture is extremely wet and I am sure horses will make it into a mud hole. I want to have this area dry, but also be able to still use this spring for watering purposes since it seems to flow year round. I know this has been a mild winter. What is the best possible solution for this? Should I french drain the spring, just dig a trench fill with rock and backfill or use a field drain? Also what is the best method for watering? Running a pipe from spring maybe from the hole I dug into a bath tub or just digging another hole in the ground at the end of the pasture before it flows over the side hill. First time doing this and I worry about drains silting in, pipes freezing, and horses falling (breaking legs) in watering holes. Any suggestions welcome and Thanks.

 

[Highbeam]

Just be aware that what you described is considered a wetland. Some agencies will not be happy about your efforts to dry out the wetland and if they knew it was there would establish a wetalnd boundary plus a buffer of between 50 and 150 feet to protect it. Then you can't do anything in that area.

This is how it happens in Washington. Hopefully not everywhere.

Beware and work quietly.

 

[rambler]

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This is how it happens in Washington. Hopefully not everywhere.

Beware and work quietly. )</font>

Same in Minnesota.

--->Paul

 

[5103Owner]

I have the same problem. The area where I want to put my horses is soaking wet, I wrote in a while ago with a post called "Field Drainage" that might be helpful to you. Just type it in to the search. Anyway I checked my property maps and there is a spot that is marked "wetland area" but the spot I want to dry up is not in that area. In the summer when it dries up I'm going to borrow a frends backhoe and install drainage tile to direct the water out of the field and into my pond. Not to go on and on here, but I have a frend who installed drainage tile in his field two years ago and it has work great so far.
Stefan

 

[rifflerunner]

Just to clarify, I did contact some of the local agencies, discretely of course, and was told that in order to be classified a wet land the area needs to be so many acres. The area I am talking about is not that large, so it is really just a spring with a drainage problem. Now the area that this springs flows into(at the bottom of the side hill) along with 3 other springs is considered a wet land area. What exactly is a drainage tile? Is this just a french drain?

 

[5103Owner]

Dig a trench, lay 4" corigated pipe in the trench, soild pipe for the main pipe then you put in several Y's of perferated 4" pipe leading into the main pipe (solid pipe) which leads to your watering hole. Then cover the pipe in gravel, and fill the rest in with dirt. This may be hard to picture. Sorry, it's hard to explain on the internet.
Stefan

 

[5103Owner]

Just found this drawing. It should clarify my last post a little bit. It doesn't have to be built to that scale. It could be larger or smaller, it also could have more "Y's".
Stefan

 

[Highbeam]

That's not true here. Unless by acres you mean something along the line of 100 square feet. Dang near a mud puddle qualifies.

Oh and just because a wetland was shown on some previous map does not mean new ones can't be found. Wetlands can come and go but mostly come as far as the agencies are concerned.

I'm all for draining the kind of wetland that has no cattails or ponded, standing water. Like they say, "there are no such things as wetlands, only drainage problems.".

 

[SnoFalls]

highbeam ...

Be happy you're not up here in King "we'll take your land" County ...

Every time I think about the CAO (Critical Areas Ordinanace), I get piffed off. http://www.proprights.org/

 

[5103Owner]

this "wet land area" stuff i sooooo rediculous /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif