How best to dam a creek?????

[ponytug]

I have. I have also had them constructed on the property by professionals with the conservation service. There are good sources out there on how to build dams in many designs and technologies.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

Actually I was thinking that if the pond had inflow it would also have outflow which would keep the water fresh.

I'd use the flow of the ditch to power a small pump to aerate/circulate the pond if I go this route.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve helped build dams, mainly inspection and material testing. These were engineered and permitted dams. The op has already shown he just wants to do it off the cuff. There are plenty of ponds built around here that weren’t permitted.

 

[Hay Dude]

Ok, mythical imported beavers aside, who here has ACTUALLY constructed a dam?

Sounds like basically no one, lotta dreamers (like myself) and folks who inherited one that was already constructed. We need some DIY examples

“mythical”?
Ain’t no myth around here….we have to have a heart trap them and get rid of them.

 

[Rustyiron]

I'll figure it out...disregard...

I think that sealing the dam to the rock stream bottom might not work out. This is from talking with lots of pond owners and builders warning me about paying strict attention to (just) my outlet pipe. Hydrostatic pressure is difficult to deal with, ask anyone with a wet foundation.
Good luck and ask around locally about this concern.

 

[paulsharvey]

For a fairly simple, and semi permanent small dam in a creek, it's pretty simple. If we want something like a 0.5 acre + pond, or significant height to the dam, we simple lack the info needed; Soil types, bottom of the creek material, rain fall, water shed, down stream hazards, ect.

When we start getting to say, the 250,000 gal capacity, that's approx a 50 ft x 50 ft square, 48" deep, I would be more worried about the 50 year rain, and similar. When we are talking about the equivalent of a large walmart 20 ft diameter, 54" deep, package pool, we can relax.

 

[MossRoad]

....

When we start getting to say, the 250,000 gal capacity, that's approx a 50 ft x 50 ft square, 48" deep, I would be more worried about the 50 year rain, and similar. When we are talking about the equivalent of a large walmart 20 ft diameter, 54" deep, package pool, we can relax.

Yeah, our 24' round above ground is about 13,000 gallons. I've seen it burst (moles undermined it) and it lost all its water through our garage and out the front in just a few minutes. But little damage overall.

 

[deezler]

“mythical”?
Ain’t no myth around here….we have to have a heart trap them and get rid of them.

Key word being "imported". I'm rather skeptical that one can unload a beaver and convince it to dam a certain spot.

 

[Hay Dude]

Be positive.
Never know till you try!

 

[paulsharvey]

So, I did all of 60 secs of research on allowable use of water; and needless to say, it's Extremely dependent on state/local laws/regs; but the short version is, abutting property owners generally have the right to use "reasonable" amounts of the water. Reasonable might be less than 250,000g/day in some areas, and might be a single gallon in others.


Non of that is to say it's unregulated use, and also non of it is to say you should or should not build the dam.