Pond Drainage Question

[Tollster]

I have a .50 acre spring fed pond that originally had a french drain, hte drain ran underground for about 300 yards, 50 of it is farly level then it goes downhill and across a neigbhors yard to a highway drain.
Over the years it has slowed down, due to root growth and underground subsidence. I want to put in a 6" flex hose this summer. But I do not think I will be able to work in the neighbors yard. He also crushed the drainpipe in his driveway which also contributed to the backup. Anyway, is it possible to run the flex hose as far as I can an tie it into the old drainfield at the property edge, and tie in some type of tee fitting with the branch connection running to the surface? I'm thinking of it being kind of like a popoff valve, as the water pressure increases due to run off and its more than hte system can handle it would then breach to the surface and go over the yard to the drain. I also think the hill would help as is has almost a 20 ft head height (estimated). It has been running over the yards now for some time during extensive downpours and spring run off. Any liability you can think of? How can I find the old ditch? Any better cost effecient alternatives I could do with the existing drain? I wish I could clean up the old one, but I do not know how to find it and hate to rip up the whole yard. I am a noob with a BX23 and think I'll have my fair share of mud pies.
Any Ideas would be greatly appriciated.
Thanks Tollie in PA.

 

[dknarnd]

Don't have an answer just a question. Is that Benton in Columbia County? If it is hello neighbor!

 

[Panache]

Lowes used to carry the popup valve for 4" pipe.

 

[normde2001]

Assuming the pond is manmade,how long has it been there and where was the natural runoff for the spring before the pond was there? That should be the drain for the pond.

 

[bczoom]

Tollster,

I believe this is what Panache is mentioning.

Something like this may be an alternative. I've used both types. If you're considering the valve type, do regular inspections to assure that grass or whatever is not affecting it's capability to pop up.

Brian

 

[Tollster]

Yes it is Neighbor, Fairmount Springs Area.
As for the pop off valve, thats what I had in mind. I'm think I need to maintain some head pressure to help push the water underground through my neighbors pipe. I'm not sure about the open basin, as it may freely flow out of the top is there is any restriction downstream, what do ya'll think?
My understanding about the spring fed pond is it used to have a open run off ditch and cattle used to graze there and use the pond. Well the family sold the farm in the 60's and the yard was leveled off, so the drain then was converted to a french drain. Sometimes I can find some holes in the yard combined with depressions and I am thinking its the old french drain. I used to find allot of holes near the pond drain when the water got high. I noticed the wter was going down those 1-2" holes so I assume its the drain. The drain located at the end of the pond consisted of cinder blocks cover with earth. After it seemed to be backing up I hand dug the blocks out and put in two 20 foot vented flex lines.
Kind of strange but I thought I had tied it into a drain of some sort, although it was not clearly identified. What I did is let some water run through the hoses into a large hole and watch where it went. Sure enough it seemed to drain the hole down, so I thought I had it fixed. Well as the story goes I then used alot of medium size stone to cover the pipes and landscape faberic, and topped it off with 20 tons of topsoil. Now the pond is worse than ever and I no longer see those small holes in my yard where I put the dirt. I made a bad thing worse it seems, So I was able to get the boss to let us purchase the bx23. I hate to dig up the yard and am worried about damaging some of my trees, particularly the roots. But then again they may be part of the problem.