How best to dam a creek?????

[Fuddyduddy1952]

On our place is a nice long spring fed creek that flows even during a drought and there are three springs along it here. One is eroding the pasture making a bowl shaped area. Creek is about 8-9 ft. down below ground level, bowl area is about 40 ft. across. I was showing it to a neighbor a few days ago who said why not dam it below bowl and what a great swimming hole. The creek bed is rock. Downstream aways I put in a 5ft culvert, compacted dirt then gravel for a drive across, below that aways is a ford, railroad ballast either side.
First I'd have to winch out some trees I tossed over into it (easy job), then I'm trying to figure out how to dam it. I can easily get my 4x4 truck to it, but not a tandem dump truck.
Any ideas best way to dam it are appreciated.
Writing this I'm thinking I do have pvc pipe sections maybe in first for water flow, install dam then cap pipes? If I just dump in a lot of rip-rap it wouldn't be water tight.
Thanks.

 

[Hay Dude]

Import a Beaver

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

"A" is side down from woods, "B" is pasture side where bowl is and the spring.

 

[ponytug]

Not to be Debbie Downer, but have you checked your state water laws? Putting a dam on a free flowing creeks tends require permits and reviews in most places.

In some states it even applies to intermittent streams...

All the best,

Peter

 

[newbury]

See if you can get some beavers relocated there to build a dam. Then you shouldn't have to worry about regulations.

 

[Fixastuff]

Damning it up is the easy part. Making an overflow that can handle the max rainfall for extended amounts of time without washing away is the hard part. At least that’s been my experience with the farm pond.

 

[dodge man]

Just looking at pictures that looks like it’d be a very small pond, which may be what your after.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Not to be Debbie Downer, but have you checked your state water laws? Putting a dam on a free flowing creeks tends require permits and reviews in most places.

In some states it even applies to intermittent streams...

All the best,

Peter

Yes. I even informed the Coast Guard and FBI.

 

[shooterdon]

Not to be Debbie Downer, but have you checked your state water laws? Putting a dam on a free flowing creeks tends require permits and reviews in most places.

In some states it even applies to intermittent streams...

All the best,

Peter

My thoughts as well. State laws can create a nightmare.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Great...Who the (bleep) will know?
We shoot trespassers...

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I asked a question, not a "legalities" lecture. Let agents come after me...then they can arrest all those neighbors up and down stream who have put in ponds, dams, etc.
Stay on topic, suggestions are welcome, f*** "regulations"...keep that to yourself.

 

[MMC]

Might work, might not. There's a lot of science and luck involved. I have a spring fed pond I renovated (cleaned out, raised dam, etc.) The higher the dam the more back pressure you'll have and from the description, a rock bottom may not hold as much as you want. Ponds are sometimes sealed with types of clay on farms. Not sure that can work on a free flowing branch like this.

You would need to put in an overflow pipe below the crest of the dam and a rip rap spillway to ensure flooding did not erode your dam, though.

OK. Here's a thought. The government is not always your enemy (shocker). In my state the Farm Service Agency is made up of what I'll call a County Agent and technical folks from the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). Within the SCS is normally a "water guy" with contacts who are experts. I've developed pond improvements and spring impoundments/tanks for cattle.

I've found them to be helpful, knowledgeable, and professional. There are federal guidelines to go by, but they are not as bad as people think. And it would keep you legal...just a thought.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

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

 

[kenmac]

Not to be Debbie Downer, but have you checked your state water laws? Putting a dam on a free flowing creeks tends require permits and reviews in most places.

In some states it even applies to intermittent streams...

All the best,

Peter

I was going to damn one on my property and the county agent told me it wasn't allowed. showed me a map with a blue line indicating the creek...Said see that blue line ? Yeah so ?? the Army Corps of engineers controls that creek, and that you'll be finned for for damning up the creek, and made to tear the dam out ! I changed my mind and built a pond away from the creek

 

[Hay Dude]

Not to be Debbie Downer, but have you checked your state water laws? Putting a dam on a free flowing creeks tends require permits and reviews in most places.

In some states it even applies to intermittent streams...

All the best,

Peter

You should call the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers, too.

 

[CalG]

Not to be Debbie Downer, but have you checked your state water laws? Putting a dam on a free flowing creeks tends require permits and reviews in most places.

In some states it even applies to intermittent streams...

All the best,

Peter

hence the call for a beaver!

But

If you wish to proceed, start with a suitably sized stand pipe that can carry the anticipated maximum volume, and set the top opening at your desired water level. A Glory hole. Then build a wooden crib dam with the top covered with boards that slope back into the pond.
Fill with rubble stone, let it silt in right up to the boards.

 

[ponytug]

You should call the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers, too.

Thanks.

I was just endeavoring to keep a fellow member from unintentionally getting into aggravation, like @kenmac almost tripped into. If I am walking along and someone points out a rattlesnake that I didn't see, I'm happy about it. The OP wants to do things his way, and in my book that's his call.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

You should call the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers, too.

Exactly!
I was thinking of you and the debris project you posted about months ago, someone suggested you contact the coast guard!

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

hence the call for a beaver!

But

If you wish to proceed, start with a suitably sized stand pipe that can carry the anticipated maximum volume, and set the top opening at your desired water level. A Glory hole. Then build a wooden crib dam with the top covered with boards that slope back into the pond.
Fill with rubble stone, let it silt in right up to the boards.

Thanks! That's what I'm looking for.
No one can see my land anyway. Trespassers and drones get dispatched.
Seriously the creek gets dammed by nature after a heavy rain, I clean it out...it's just not in the right spot.
Sheesh! All is well...some people get wadded panties!

 

[kenmac]

Thanks.

I was just endeavoring to keep a fellow member from unintentionally getting into aggravation, like @kenmac almost tripped into. If I am walking along and someone points out a rattlesnake that I didn't see, I'm happy about it. The OP wants to do things his way, and in my book that's his call.

All the best,

Peter

yeah, all I did was to call the county agent as to get advice as to how to go about building a pond, and thought it would be a good idea to just damn up the creek.
Glad I did call instead of just damning up the creek.
I imagine they always looking through google earth to see what people are doing . That's how they would know if I were growing illegal things on my property