Building a dam?

[Rodsrsr]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

My in-laws had a natural spring on their house lot they owned years ago. FIL had built a small concrete formed damn - about a foot or two in height and about 10 feet across, mayb 6-8" wide. He had a small "spillway" right in the middle. Placed large rocks at the base on the spring side. They had a small water fountain pump that ran continuously in the center, and in the summer, he would hook up a garden hose to the pump and water the lawn. The entire pond was about 100 sq ft (10 x 10).

This sounds good. Keeping the water moving will keep it clean and help prevent mosquito's.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

For starters, I suggest you check whether there are laws or rules in your jurisdiction that regulate the construction of things in, or next to, watercourses.
My home province has very strict rules on this, even in relation to watercourses on private property.

So does mine - I would take Rinty's & Paul's advice on that. Also DFO (Dept. of Fisheries & Oceans - the federal dudes) here carries a pretty big stick & is usually quite strict as well when it comes to any watercourses. All the same, it sounds like a nice project. Good Luck.

Cheers
JB

[dad911]

NJ, property owner built a pond in the 60's, now there are 200' wetland buffers around it, the property gets devalued/unable to be developed.

[BK911]

Thanks for the input so far.
I own the ravine, and a couple of feeder ravines.
The discharge hits one farm before it hits the clinch river.
Only one neighbor who would be upstream, the rest is state park.
I would allow him access so he shouldn't mind.
Nobody else would even know.
Except the internet!
Still going to contact the county just in case.
Thinking of going deeper, maybe 6+ feet, plus the 4' dam.

[KFC911]

The way my land is sloped, etc. no water runoff passes through the ponds...just the spring's output and direct rainfall...the higher elevation's runoff/drainage ditch beside them can go from dry to raging creek to a small lake if something blocks the path....falling trees/limbs etc.....plan carefully. What would a mountain flash flood do in those ravines? Sounds like fun!

[BK911]

~60x30 4' deep without a dam.
Have about another 4' I could dam.
Filled up over night!
Multiple inlets with two good outflows.
Crystal clear COLD water.
Very refreshing jumping in after working up a sweat watching wifey cut the grass.

[john70t]

For future reference: The EPA and Federal Law disagrees with damming a stream for personal reasons.

1). Even if that water has always been part of your property.

2). Even if that water would have normally been soaked up by existing tree roots and remained on your property.

3). Even if natural forces such as the beaver animal normally damn up streams and this is a part of normal nature.
(yeah give it a few shovels and the beav agrees)

[BK911]

I didn't dam it.
I just dug a hole.

[john70t]

Well, we can't control what animals dig up or what trees drop, now, can we.
just 'sayin.
Looks purty nice.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Just bwing in a famiwy of beavers and be done wiff it.

No doubt.