Draining into swale idea

Jan 10, 2016 07:16:38

So we have been having some heavy rains and our back yard keeps flooding. There was a swale put in by the previous owner and a tiny river develops during these heavy rains. However to the right of the swale is when our goat shed and pen are located. Its on the land higher that the swale but there is an area in the outside pen the collects a large amount of water. As you can see in the picture water is at a stand still in the pen with nowhere to go. Is it too simple minded of me to think I can just dig up a small trench in the soil from where the water collects in the pen and have the trench connect into the swale. This is what I'm thinking in my head but I don't know if it will work how I envision it. Looking for ideas...

Jan 10, 2016 07:35:59

I would route that water to the swale!

Jan 10, 2016 11:26:20

Nick, I would not only do a swale from the front corner of the goat shed to that existing swale in the foreground, so it doesn't even reach the area where it is now pooling, but I would also do a Y or a slanted swale behind the goat shed, to the left of the picture to stop the water from even getting to the goat shed. If the water in the upper part of the photo (that is beyond the goat shed is flowing towards the goat shed, then I'd put a swale parallel to the goat shed on that other side as well, so you've essentially got an island of goat shed and pen area.

You can just go out and do a preliminary trench while there's standing water, with your shovel, starting at the goat shed corner shallowly (this end of the trench may need to go all the way across the front of the shed, not just start at the corner) and slowly deepen it as you head towards the existing swale, watching the water pick up speed so you can reinforce your understanding of how the water is running.

I don't make trenches when it's dry because the water fools me every time. I get out there in knee boots and a shovel and let the water do most of the work, and it's easier shoveling when it's sloppy like that. then putting the effort into a bigger swale will work, and not be a lost effort.

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