Ground water indicators

I have a rural property that I am looking at building on. It currently has no amenities at all.
One field has two patches of bullrush grass in it. The soil here is damp even though it has been a very dry year and all around is dry. I would think this would indicate ground water?

Wondering if I should try digging down with a backhoe to see what I get.

Have you tried with a shovel? If it’s really wet a shovel would give you a better idea… before you bring in equipment. I mean unless you have equipment then digger up!

What’s the plan with it if it is ground water?
You want to build a pond?
Or a hand dug well? Settlers dug many a well by hand.

Dalton Dycer wrote:Have you tried with a shovel? If it’s really wet a shovel would give you a better idea… before you bring in equipment. I mean unless you have equipment then digger up!

What’s the plan with it if it is ground water?.

I have an extend-a- hoe.

Water for animals and possibly a cabin.

can you leave it alone and work idependently for water.
It is obviously party of the environment and if you start digging around you may ruin it.
Do you have natural drainage patterns or can you collect rainfall.
I use both at my property in Australia

A dig bar could be plunged down to see HOW deep the liquid water is. I’d dig by hand a 3’ by 3’ by 4’ deep hole 🕳 to see if and how much it fills up put a board of wood on top. If it’s a spring you might be able to pipe it into a trough this way. Or hand or electric pump it from there depending on how quickly it fills up.

I understand the leave it alone view and I support that as well, however if you’re on a watery treasure hunt for animal or homestead; It could get you started if the hole can get a little protective structure & gets covered to prevent little creatures from dying in your drinking water (never a good thing).
I’d do my idea before bringing in equipment, I have yet to see any heavy equipment that didn’t leave an oily sheen wherever it goes. But that’s ick and we don’t talk about that.