grading/better flow through drainage ditch

denemante

Hey all,

We have a ditch behind my house that's roughly a foot deep. It would appear to be natural. It flows across the back edge of a few properties (including mine) and ends in a culvert/cement drain head sticking out of the dirt in the back corner of my property. It's usually empty, but during heavy rain, there might be a few inches+ of water flowing through it.

Everyone's downspouts (including mine) go into the ground near their houses then out under their yards through corregated pipe and just open into this little ditch.

My neighbors are uphill, so their ditches just empty out into my section.

It's lined with huge rocks. Over the years, dirt has built up. So I have two problems.

The first is that there are low spots where water stands. Bad for mosquitos.

The second is that massive amounts of leaves and yard clippings get clogged up in it like dams. Eventually water finds it's way through - but, it's almost always a mucky/stinky/rotting mess.

I figured I could lay a 6-8 inch corregated pipe in the ditch. But the entrance would surely get blocked/clogged. I could go bigger - but then this thing would probably be above ground level.

Do I have any options here? Or should I just hire a group of laborers and simply dig the ditch out and clean it up so water flows right through smoothly and into the culvert?

joecaption

Pictures?
Who's property is this ditch on?

Bondo

Ayuh,.... Just how Far are We talkin', from where the water/ trench enters yer property, to where it daylights into the drain,..??

How much Elevation ya got to work with,..??

You have wet spots, because there's a dam, downhill from it...
If you carry a Continuous pitch, from entry to exit, the water will flow, 'n the turf will dry out, 'tween rains...

Yer 2nd point, is just Mother Nature at her Finest,... Makin' Topdirt....
Remove the dams, 'n let the water flow, 'n that'll naturally better itself....

denemante

The overall ditch is probably a 200 foot run. The first 100 feet has plenty of slope so the water vacates quickly. Then there is about a the 80 foot trouble zone that doesn't have much pitch and is somewhat flat. The last 20 feet or so is OK.

Bondo

Ayuh,.... Can't see it, but if ya pull a string line the whole way, you can adjust the grade to match...