Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

fixing a creek-need excavating advice

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
glennster

09-04-2007 08:32:36




Report to Moderator

have a creek running thru part of my farm. comes in at 8 acre stand of timber, makes a lazy s thru the timber then runs straight for about 40 rods to a small bridge at the road, goes into the neighbors property and continues on. from grade level to creek bottom, maybe 10-15 ft average. creek usually runs from 10 inches deep, to over the bank in heavy rains. got a lot of wash out erosion from the last big rains near the curves, also got some sediment islands in the straight run. i'm thinking about hauling in stone where the erosion is heaviest to hold the banks, and having a machine come in to clean up the straight run. was thinking about maybe 4 inch stone or so, i dont want to use concrete rubble, the kids fish there, and the rubble is too jagged. any recomendations on stone size? i'm thinking i will need probably 5 semi loads to cover the bad spots. as far as a machine to do the work, i had thought about hiring a gradall to come in. its a pretty good stretch to get to the center of the ditch. anybdy know the reach on a gradall? (its the truck with the telescoping boom and shovel on the end) to get a track excavator out with a high hoe is 900.00 just to haul the machine out, thats why im leaning toward a gradall. any ideas??thoughts or comments, thanks a bunch, glenn i can get some pictures and post them if that will help.

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
triplerange

09-05-2007 05:05:26




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
'Morning Glenster. You need a range of sizes for stone...4" to 24" in size. It'll work best if the stones are of crushed nature (jagged) as they will interlock. You will need about 18-24" thick layer. I recommend using filter fabric (geotextile)under the stone. Probably need to tuck it into the soil at the top so the water can't wash underneath it. That would be the correct way to do it. Gradall's going to be kinda slow and cumbersome, but better than nothing. A track hoe is the quick and easy way. I can't hardly believe you need a permit to PREVENT erosion and dress up a creek bank, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask SCS. You'll likely get a "thank you...have at it". Good luck and dont get hurt.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Oldmax

09-04-2007 19:31:00




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
Be sure to check first . If you drive through a stream in WV and muddy the water you can be fined.
Can't cut a tree and leave brush within 50' of stream . or burn anything where flood water will cover ashes .



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Walt Davies

09-04-2007 16:09:20




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
Makes one wonder who owns your land anymore doesn't it.
They tried to pass a law here in Oregon to put a meter on all wells private or not and tax us for using our own water.

Walt



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
jimont

09-04-2007 10:40:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
Definately check for permits from all agencies which might have control over flowing waters. I wanted to clean the cattails which had taken over the creek on our other farm. Land had been grazed for years and cattle had used the creek for watering (and other) purposes. Had no trouble getting permits to remove the cattails TO WITHIH 3 FEET OF THE EXISTING BANK , couldn't touch the existing bank. This was done in 1995 and the durned cattails are coming back again. Just can't get very far ahead of old Mother Nature.
BTW , we used an ordinary excavator but would definately recommend a long reach excavator the next time.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jimmy King

09-04-2007 10:20:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
As others have said do not do anything before checking with Soil Conservation, altering any stream any where will bring the Corp. of Enginers down on you like stink on you know what. They will see it on that big eye in the sky.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

09-04-2007 10:09:42




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
The best and cheapest way to do that is with willow trees. Easy to get started and once you have one growing all you do is cut starts off of it and put them in the ground. Plus the state will not give you problems doing it that way. Most states now days will fine you big time for messing with a creek with out first getting permits. BTDT and I use willows all the time on my place and also have a permit to excavate gravel from my creek

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
ejr-IA.

09-04-2007 09:59:13




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
Use your local soil conservation service NRCS for technical assistance on stream channel stabilization and cost share programs.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
glennster

09-04-2007 10:12:13




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to ejr-IA., 09-04-2007 09:59:13  
thanks for all the advice, i never thought about the county offices and permits. i will give them a call and see whats involved first.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
paul

09-04-2007 09:38:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
Think that would be a jail term these days in my state..... Won't even let you mow cattails in the road ditch any more, much less move a shovel of dirt.

--->Paul



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dick L

09-04-2007 09:23:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
Check with your county engineer. We are under county ditch management and they will come out and do what is needed or work with you. I have a ford rather than a bridge to get to my 25 acres across the creek. A few years back the dumped two loads of #4 lime stone and worked it in with the county backhoe. All I did was ask. Now you know that most countries will do things like this in there good time. (:^D

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Formerly PaMike

09-04-2007 09:20:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
4" Stone will be gone in the first heavy rain...trust me. I would contact your local NRCS office. In our area they love to do these types of projects and usually it is at no cost to the land owner. Lots of red tape and permits though.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
marlowe

09-04-2007 09:05:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
you will need PERMITS< PERMITS< and more PERMITS don't try it with out



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Janicholson

09-04-2007 09:23:18




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to marlowe, 09-04-2007 09:05:32  
A gentileman put 3000$ of rock in a lake fron that was muddy (to gain enough frontage support to use the property "better" He spent three times that in removal costs, and even more in fines. Not good at all. Streems are not ours, they are government reality. Permits might be available on those sections that were artificially streight from prior dredging. Probably not in the woods. JimN



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RodInNS

09-04-2007 09:00:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
I'd question the stone too. From what you're describing I'd think the armour stone would need to be in the two foot range. Big, big rock. I could be wrong, but I think that's what I'd do....
A long reach hoe would probably work better for digging out the mud and placing the rock. This is apt to be an expensive little venture. I'd also check on the permit end of things too...

Rod



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
TGIN

09-04-2007 08:59:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
We have put some 2'x2'x4' concrete blocks in a creek that sounds about the same size and the creek has moved some of them !! It`s hard to fool mothernature .



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
noncompos

09-04-2007 08:59:09




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
Glenn, don't do ANYTHING to that creek (or any regularly flowing or seasonal or occasional watercourse or ditch that runs from and into adjacent properties) without doing some discreet research...Bradley has mentioned permits, and there're the legal questions: anything you do could be questioned by anyone above you (obstructing flow, causing overbank damage etc) or below you (enhancing flow, causing erosion etc). You may well find there're no real problems, but you don't want someone coming out to tell you you hafta return everything to it's pre-work state, etc.. Maybe the Country Lawyer will chime in here with a few (scary) comments. With sympathy, Bud

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
bradley martin

09-04-2007 08:39:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
I question whether 4" stone is big enough to hold...rushing water has a lot of power. Also, depending where you live you may need a permit from DNR or some other authority before commencing work. A Gradall does a nice job, but they are slow.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mike (WA)

09-04-2007 08:39:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: fixing a creek-need excavating advice in reply to glennster, 09-04-2007 08:32:36  
The gradall is a good idea- might be hard to find a small contractor who has one, though. Would seem that 4 inch rock would be to small to rip-rap to prevent erosion- would probably just wash away if the stream gets swift enough to erode. I think you want boulders- foot or more in size.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy