Wet weather stream in the pasture

[marhar]

I have a wet weather stream that I used to cross. Now cows get in it and have made a mess of it. The stream has a small trickle of water year round but during a down pour 10+ acres drain through the stream. Someday I will make this a pond. As for now I would like to safely cross the stream.

About 2ft down is a bed of shale rock (aka as dirt rock). I know I have a base of shale as I can see it in a few deep cuts in the pasture. I spoke with a fellow that suggested that I place two large culvers and pour concrete around them to keep water from washing around them. The cost was prohibitive.

I wonder if I could dump rip-rap in the stream to create a solid bed that I could drive across? When I have thrown an occasional field stone into the stream bed it sinks.

I do not think rip rap would wash. I think as it settles to the shale in the stream bed I would have a solid base to drive on. I think the trickle will be able to run through the rip rap.

 

[Jchonline]

Drive across in what? The Riprap will at least sink to that shale.

If equipment is heavy enough, it will just push the riprap outwards in the mud. You need the riprap to not have mud all over it if possible, so it gets friction with adjoining rocks.

 

[marhar]

Drive across in what? The Riprap will at least sink to that shale.

If equipment is heavy enough, it will just push the riprap outwards in the mud. You need the riprap to not have mud all over it if possible, so it gets friction with adjoining rocks.

My goal is to be able to drive across it with a tractor. Rip rap will definitely sink to the shale base. You make an excellent point about the mud and friction as well as the rock pushing out.

 

[jaxs]

If you have access to a cutting torch and large tractor you can have a decomissioned 40' flatbed semi trailer delivered for about $1k. Have them line trailer up when delivered,drag it across stream,cut running gear off, sit it down and admire your new bridge.

 

[redman135]

Measure how far from the stream to hard ground, then mark out TWICE the width of the tractor. That is the dirt you need to remove down to shale to have a good durable crossing. If you just throw rock on dirt the rock will vanish into the mud.
Back fill with riprap(will let water flow through) to level required.
Alternative
Use geocloth at TWICE the tractor width and lay riprap to suit. Note, you will need at least a foot of riprap (stops mud shifting to much) more is better, then taper of into the hard dirt at the side.
I don't know what soil type you have. The first method is most sure, and the 2nd method works with porus soil types (volcanic ash, sand, coarse silt, etc).
Good luck.