The gully to pond project

[jinman]

I'm not in Oregon, but I can see it.

We have around 50-70 inches a year and almost no runoff except roads, etc. I can turn on a garden hose full volume at the end of a garden furrow, and it won't run a foot down the furrow--just soaks in.

When I lived in the southwest desert, I could furrow irrigate a garden, but not here.

Bruce

Yes, but the Columbia River gorge and Multnomah Falls is proof that not all areas there are the same. You do get runoff. Vancouver, Washington has lush vegetation and deep topsoil which tends to absorb a tremendous amount of water. If I add your variable to the equation, it becomes even more complex. How much land you need for runoff depends on average rainfall, terrain, and soil types.

 

[Western]

Jim, good thing the water stopped when it did then:thumbsup: May have taken out some of your hard work. Good thing you spotted that now.

 

[jinman]

My rain guage topped out at about 3-1/2" for the weekend. By any measure, this is the biggest/best shower of the year for me, but I know many folks in the heart of DFW didn't get but a little over 1". I got out yesterday and carefully drove around so as not to make muddy ruts and get some photos.

The 1st & 2nd photos show my little pond is almost full to overflow. I think I'll raise that dam another 18" just to be on the safe side. I want to make sure I still have that much freeboard when the pond is overflowing. From the history of my other ponds, 18" should be plenty. The water in the pond is sure muddy. Before the rain, it had become crystal clear and I'm hoping it will do the same in a few days. My rip-rap worked well to stop erosion.

The 3rd & 4th photos show the back side of the dam and how well the clay sand mix worked. I am thrilled with the result. There's one spot where I didn't get the mix to cover and you can see how it eroded with the water. I don't care how hard this is to do, it will be my standard for the back sides of all my dams.

 

[jinman]

On the 2nd pond and my dam construction, I feel like I dodged a bullet. The water just came high enough to trickle over the dam. I have to go up another 8' with this dam and anymore rain or a heavy downpour would have done some serious damage as it is, there's a pool of water about 4' deep in front of the dam and I will have to come in from above to finish the rest. It's time for Plan B to come into action.

The 1st photo shows the dam between ponds and gives an idea of the difference in levels. The 2nd shows the pool of water at the dam and the 3rd is a closeup to show the water trickling over the dam. The 4th photo shows the dam from above. The final photo shows the whole 2nd pond basin. The water will rise to the level of the white caliche in the background.

 

[ronjhall]

Looking good Jim. Going be interesting when we stop by next month.

 

[jinman]

I gotta be ready before you get here. You always bring a big rain storm with you.:thumbsup: I hope things are a bit greener around here. The trees sure look bare and drab in winter.

 

[beppington]

Jim, I don't see any spillways - Isn't a spillway needed to control overflow 1) from the higher pond to the lower pond, and 2) from the lower pond into the gully?

You mention needing to raise the little pond's dam 18", but isn't that just delaying disaster, & maybe worsening it (more water to bust thru during overflow & dam wash-out) ... unless you have plans for a spillway as part of that 18" height increase?

It's amazing how fast your ponds filled up! :thumbsup:

 

[jinman]

Jim, I don't see any spillways - Isn't a spillway needed to control overflow 1) from the higher pond to the lower pond, and 2) from the lower pond into the gully?

You didn't notice, but I mentioned earlier that I dug a temporary trench across the area behind the first dam. It's shown in red in the 1st photo below. That will get an 18" culvert. I thought about putting in two 15" culverts, but decided a single 18" would be better/easier and sufficient.

In the 2nd pond, the overflow will be far away from the dam and through a 24" culvert as shown by the red wireframe cylinder in the 2nd photo. That culvert will empty into the bigger gully area and before the next big dam project where I will dam a major area and have lots of gullies filled with water. I'm gonna call it Fishy Fingers Lake at Rockin' Anchor Ranch. All this stuff is just a warmup for that B-I-G project. I just laugh when folks ask me how I keep busy in retirement.:cool2:

 

[beppington]

You didn't notice, but I mentioned earlier that I dug a temporary trench across the area behind the first dam. It's shown in red in the 1st photo below. That will get an 18" culvert. I thought about putting in two 15" culverts, but decided a single 18" would be better/easier and sufficient.

So you'll set the 18" culvert on the red oval & then add material on top of the dam until the culvert is covered? That outta work :thumbsup:, as long as 255 square inches of spillway area is enough :thumbsup:

 

[bindian]

Looking most excellant. I think you were real lucky with this storm.
hugs, Brandi