constructing ditches
constructing ditches
(OP)
Hello all, new here.
I have a question I have bad flooding and I tried building a ditch 1 foot wide by 2 feeet deep filled with river rocks. That did not work the rocks filled with dirt. So I am in the process of removing the rocks. I will still have the ditch that is 1 by 2 feet deep. My question is what can I do to the dicth to keep the dirt from washing awayand getting bigger and out of control?? I thought about concrete but to expensive, I thought about lining the sides with wood but that would only last so long. Are there any solutions for me out there?? Not to expensive please.
I have a question I have bad flooding and I tried building a ditch 1 foot wide by 2 feeet deep filled with river rocks. That did not work the rocks filled with dirt. So I am in the process of removing the rocks. I will still have the ditch that is 1 by 2 feet deep. My question is what can I do to the dicth to keep the dirt from washing awayand getting bigger and out of control?? I thought about concrete but to expensive, I thought about lining the sides with wood but that would only last so long. Are there any solutions for me out there?? Not to expensive please.





RE: constructing ditches
RE: constructing ditches
Second - It sounds as if you may have sediment which was deposited in your channel which then covers the rocks. You need to either remove the sediment before it gets into your ditch, or make sure it moves downstream and doesn't stay in your ditch.
To remove the sediment, you construct a sediment basin which is basin excavated upstream of your channel which is designed to fill up with sediment. It must be cleaned out periodically.
To keep the sediment moving through the ditch, make sure you have a good slope and sufficient capacity in your ditch, so the water velocity is high enough. this will keep the sediment in suspension.
RE: constructing ditches
If this is the case, then somebody upstream is in violation of the NPDES permit, and has is legally responsible.
How long has the flooding condition persisted? Is it new? It could be that construction activity upstream has caused more water to cross your site, which also has legal ramifications.
Sediment moving through the ditch is a bad idea: the sediment needs to be contained upstream of the ditch, not downstream of it. The only sediment concerns the ditch should have is not to cause any more sedimentation.
Ideally, you need an indication of the size of the drainage area, an indication of the ground cover in the drainage area, and the slope of the ditch, and a geographic location. These four things will enable a crude calculation of the amount of water flowing in the ditch, as well as the depth of flow in the ditch. This way, we'll know if the ditch is adequate. This will also give an indication of what type of protection you need on the ditch to prevent erosion in the ditch.
Failing this drainage area information, the size and slope of any upstream pipe would give a big hint.
Vegetation (i.e. grass) is usually adequate protection - once its established - for flows between 3 and 5 foot per second. Anything faster and you'll need those river rocks to dissipate energy and protect the ground below the rocks. If the slope is steeper than 10H:1V (i.e. 10%), then you definitely need to consider a liner below the rocks.
Do the rocks actually fill the ditch? Or just line it? How big are they, on average?
RE: constructing ditches
Should I slop the sides so I can plant grass and rocks?
Thnanks for the replies
RE: constructing ditches
Flatten the sides of the ditch so the top of the ditch is about six or seven feet wide. Bottom width is 1 foot and depth is 2 feet. This will provide a slope flat enough so the rocks will stay in place on the sides of the ditch.
Then place the filter fabric on the bottom and rocks on top of the fabric. You can get the fabric at Home Depot or Lowes in the garden department.
You could use the rocks you have and just line the bottom of the ditch. Then use grass for the top part of the ditch.
RE: constructing ditches
Filling the ditch with rocks is a mistake, because the rocks are taking up room that the water would flow in. If there are smaller rocks, these will help prevent the bottom eroding, providing the flow isn't too great or the slope of the ditch isn't too steep.
Sloping the sides of the ditch is highly advisable. Vegetation can't regrow on sheer slopes on your ditch, which means that they'll erode every time it rains, making your ditch wider over time.
Our typical ditch section is 2' deep with sides sloping no steeper than 3H:1V (33%). Depending on where you live, you might want to mow the grass on the sides of your ditch, and if you have space, a gently sloping side slope will give more room for your water to flow, as well as slow it down (more friction and less depth contributing to momentum).
Where are you located? How long is your ditch? How steep is it? Where is the water coming from and where is it going to?
It concerns me that the spaces between the rocks are filling with sediment. Is this sediment coming from within your ditch? (For instance, did it wash in there from the pile of dirt you excavated to create your ditch?) Or is it coming from off your property?
If this sediment is washing off your property, and it's of your making, you could be liable for a fine or a lawsuit. If it's washing across your property from somebody else's property, then they could be liable for a fine or a lawsuit.
RE: constructing ditches
Thanks for all the help.
Lance
RE: constructing ditches
RE: constructing ditches
Our standard detail for rock lined ditches (called "rip rap" ditches does not call for a fabric underneath the rock. You are obviously better off with it, but it may not be necessary. The crunch will be where the sediment is coming from. If it's coming from upstream, then you more than likely don't need to go to the trouble of unpacking all your rocks and putting down the fabric. If, however, the sediment is coming from your own ditch eroding, then I would recommend it.
As mentioned above, even out in the county, there will be some regulatory body (somebody owns the public road, probably a "county highway authority"). You should contact them regarding the sediment and the flooding -- which could be separate issues. They are responsible for road and drainage issues because they accepted the road and drainage structures from the developer. You should not have had to go to the expense of creating your own ditch; the drainage provisions ought to have been adequate.
The following document outlines the Colorado NPDES permit, and the responsibilities of developers and their contractors. If the sediment is from construction activity, call the appropriate person at the state and they will require the contractor to clean up your ditch at a minimum.
www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/PCD/water/appc.pdf
These are the people you can contact at the state.
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/wqhom.asp
Good luck.
RE: constructing ditches
couldn't have done it with out your imput.
Lance
RE: constructing ditches
first one is RipRap. its cheap but you need to good foreman. he must be like puzzle as you know RipRap like an Puzzle and should be focus on key stone and unsoluble rocks.
another one is Gabion desk. its not cheap.