[T4d]

THis was from a few months ago, but right now the water is over the road where I’m standing taking this picture from. This is the corner of my 20 acre property. My house is just to the right. I have no idea on how to get rid of this water, it’s very close to my house right now. Would digging a pond right here and building up a berm en the edge of my property to block field run off help my situation? This is the lowest point in property so running a French drain wouldn’t work from my understanding. Thanks!

 

[SPS-1]

You have to give it someplace to go.

Is there maybe a ditch along the road ?

 

[Texican57]

Dig a pond and stock it with fish!

 

[lenaitch]

If this is an isolated impoundment; i.e. not an extension of another body of high water, the ground is either saturated or frozen. Either way, the water has no where to go. Whether you can create that by a ditch or trench depends on the surrounding terrain.

Digging a pond won't do much except give you some dirt to build a berm.

If you can't re-direct the water, you can truck in dirt for a berm/levee, sand bags, etc. or pray for Spring to thaw the ground.

 

[T4d]

You have to give it someplace to go.

Is there maybe a ditch along the road ?

The water flows over the ditch across the road

 

[T4d]

The ground gets completely saturated every spring/fall and about all winter. If a pond and berm will work then that’s what I’ll have to do as that’s the only option I see. There is a deeper ditch that never holds water about 900 yards away. But I believe it’s close to the same level as the standing water. I can get more pics tomorrow if that will help

 

[SW Dweller]

Time to contact your local authority for instruction. The feds have made water shed a mess. The county guys in my juristiction knew the issues and had clear instructions for my property.

Sure hope your septic and leach feild is not out there

 

[SPS-1]

The water flows over the ditch across the road

Then you do have someplace to send the water.
If you run a trench from the area you posted to the ditch by the road, then the water has someplace to go.
The ditch may get overwhelmed in heavy rainfall, but as the water recedes, it would at least have the ability to drain that area.

 

[lenaitch]

If the ditch that the water flows is fouled with growth, you could talk to whoever owns it to see if they are willing to clean it to improve flow and make sure any culvert is clear. Nine hundred yards is a long way to trench but it would take advantage of an empty ditch. You'd have to survey it for elevation. Eye-balling slope and elevation over that distance is risky.

Moving ground water off property often comes with rules and restrictions.

Good point about a septic tile bed.

 

[T4d]

 

[ktownskier]

That orange cap in the first picture is probably marking a drain. And, that drain is obviously clogged.

Is there anytime during the year that the the area is water free? If this is a relatively recent occurrence, something has obviously changed. Cleaning that drain, if it is one should help, but there is something else causing it.

If there is a stream or some other way that the water in the area used to flow, check it for beaver dams. As cute as those critters are, they do massive damage trying to keep water where they want it.

You mentioned a dry ditch a ways a way. Is it possible that the water you have now once flowed to it? I would back track from it and look for any diversions or blockages and beaver dams.

Yes, you can build a pond. but it is going to take up quite a bit of your land to make a proper one. You have to dig down AND take the excavated dirt to build up the sides. But, you have to figure out where the water is coming from so that you can channel the water into the pond. Or build a sump area to pump the water into the pond.

Water like that has to come from someplace, and looking at the concrete post by the orange cover, there is no apparent water line so it is not a frequent or long term occurrence. Same from looking at the trees.

Have there been any ground movement in the area?

Sorry for all the questions, as I type new possibilities keep popping up in my head. From your pictures, there doesn't seem to be much elevation so run-off from a hill side doesn't seem to be a culprit, but there is farming. So, there could be run-off from the fields. Have you had more rain in the past few years than normal?

I would strongly suggest contacting your local AHJ and county departments to see if they can help. And do it before it becomes a waterfowl migration area and you CAN'T do anything.

 

[rogerwh]

Digging a pond wouldn’t work unless you believe the bottom of the pond would be below the ground freeze line and above ground water table. Even though, most ponds have an overflow, you have no place for overflow. If you have any kind of ditch, that isn't retaining water, I would drain to it.

 

[T4d]

That orange cap in the first picture is probably marking a drain. And, that drain is obviously clogged.

Is there anytime during the year that the the area is water free? If this is a relatively recent occurrence, something has obviously changed. Cleaning that drain, if it is one should help, but there is something else causing it.

If there is a stream or some other way that the water in the area used to flow, check it for beaver dams. As cute as those critters are, they do massive damage trying to keep water where they want it.

You mentioned a dry ditch a ways a way. Is it possible that the water you have now once flowed to it? I would back track from it and look for any diversions or blockages and beaver dams.

Yes, you can build a pond. but it is going to take up quite a bit of your land to make a proper one. You have to dig down AND take the excavated dirt to build up the sides. But, you have to figure out where the water is coming from so that you can channel the water into the pond. Or build a sump area to pump the water into the pond.

Water like that has to come from someplace, and looking at the concrete post by the orange cover, there is no apparent water line so it is not a frequent or long term occurrence. Same from looking at the trees.

Have there been any ground movement in the area?

Sorry for all the questions, as I type new possibilities keep popping up in my head. From your pictures, there doesn't seem to be much elevation so run-off from a hill side doesn't seem to be a culprit, but there is farming. So, there could be run-off from the fields. Have you had more rain in the past few years than normal?

I would strongly suggest contacting your local AHJ and county departments to see if they can help. And do it before it becomes a waterfowl migration area and you CAN'T do anything.

That orange is a drain. It’s the farmers drain and it’s just a couple feed from the property line. I talked to him about it thinking the same thing. But he said if it wasn’t there then that water would be there for much longer. I believe him or else he would fix it to avoid hurting his crops. That whole field has a 1-2 degree slope towards my property. Where my yard meets his field is BOTH THE LOWEST PART OF MY PROPERTY, and THE LOWEST PART OF HIS FIELD… there are no lakes, creeks, or rivers around. This is purely field run off plus possibly his field tile has a big part to play in it. Possibly all of his drainage from the whole field runs downhill to that drain and actually flowing up out of the drain into my yard. That orange drain was under water for a few days. It’s 4ft tall! In the summer months when it’s dry and not much rain then that whole area is dry as can be. And that’s when I would be digging a pond there if it’ll help

 

[T4d]

Every year it’s the same thing. Floods during rainy months, dry as a desert in dry months. I’m just now trying to figure something out.

 

[ktownskier]

That orange is a drain. It’s the farmers drain and it’s just a couple feed from the property line. I talked to him about it thinking the same thing. But he said if it wasn’t there then that water would be there for much longer. I believe him or else he would fix it to avoid hurting his crops. That whole field has a 1-2 degree slope towards my property. Where my yard meets his field is BOTH THE LOWEST PART OF MY PROPERTY, and THE LOWEST PART OF HIS FIELD… there are no lakes, creeks, or rivers around. This is purely field run off plus possibly his field tile has a big part to play in it. Possibly all of his drainage from the whole field runs downhill to that drain and actually flowing up out of the drain into my yard. That orange drain was under water for a few days. It’s 4ft tall! In the summer months when it’s dry and not much rain then that whole area is dry as can be. And that’s when I would be digging a pond there if it’ll help

Every year it’s the same thing. Floods during rainy months, dry as a desert in dry months. I’m just now trying to figure something out.

Then Farmer John needs to fix it. It is his problem and he as much as said so. If it (the drain) wasn't there, it would be much worse. You need to keep talking with him to make sure that he is aware how much HIS problem is infringing on the enjoyment of YOUR property as well as any concerns you have of the water possibly encroaching further towards your house and possibly causing damage. Which he would be responsible for. AS LONG AS YOU MAKE HIM AWARE THAT YOU KNOW IT IS HIS PROBLEM TO FIX.

Who owns the property across the road? Can it hold more water or will it just overflow back to your side? Can the county build the road higher so that the water can be pumped to the other side to hold it back?

From what you have written, he doesn't seem to care all that much about the water issue. He put in a drain, it drains the water faster so HE can plant faster. Other than that it is not a problem. No inconvenience to him at all. Other than driving over a flooded road on occasion. But that is what trucks are for.

Talk to him about building a berm to prevent further encroachment. Essentially a dam so that your home and property are protected. Again. talk with the county and other government agencies. If he still seems to think that there is no problem, then I would suggest checking with an attorney who is familiar with land issues. Preferably from a different county but who is familiar with your counties zoning laws and building codes. The reason I am suggesting going outside of the county is that he may be friends with local attorneys and they may not look kindly about legal actions against their friend.

But first and foremost, talk with Farmer John. and see what you can work out with him to help with the issue. I presume you have done some talking but be more persistent, stress your concerns about possible damage to your home and your property. Talk with an attorney, usually your first contact is free, to see what options are available. I am not a practicing attorney and I am NOT familiar with your local rules, laws and codes. So be careful.

And good luck. Please keep us informed as to how things go. We want to help as much as we can.

 

[ktownskier]

Digging a pond wouldn’t work unless you believe the bottom of the pond would be below the ground freeze line and above ground water table. Even though, most ponds have an overflow, you have no place for overflow. If you have any kind of ditch, that isn't retaining water, I would drain to it.

That is why I said you would have to dig down and then built it up. Although I didn't say you would have to dig down below frost line, it was implied.

But with the additional information the OP gave us, building a pond probably wouldn't help much. And it seems that the area is relatively flat with this area being the lowest point. Although I am curious about the wooded area seen in the pictures, to me, that indicates an area of water. I wonder if that is where the drain under the orange cap drains to. Farmer John should be pumping it there as that seems to be his property as well.

 

[notnew2diy]

That pipe should have another end, an exit for the standing water to drain.
Where is that other end?

Is water getting into your house/basement?

Good luck...Don.

 

[rogerwh]

That is why I said you would have to dig down and then built it up. Although I didn't say you would have to dig down below frost line, it was implied.

But with the additional information the OP gave us, building a pond probably wouldn't help much. And it seems that the area is relatively flat with this area being the lowest point. Although I am curious about the wooded area seen in the pictures, to me, that indicates an area of water. I wonder if that is where the drain under the orange cap drains to. Farmer John should be pumping it there as that seems to be his property as well.

Thanks for the reply, the above post sounds very knowledgeable, but my post was directed to the OP, not you.

 

[T4d]

That woods is a small 5 acre woods and it’s dry and uphill. Yea everywhere is mostly flat. My wife wants a swimming pond. So it would be at least 10ft deep. And with the dirt, I’d block off that whole fence row all they way to that woods. And that corner id build up to the road. This pic is from the fall when we got just a little rain. This is the very corner of my property. That ridge with the two trees is the road. That fence row is the edge of my line. See how high up the road is? Everywhere there is water in this pic, there would be dirt built up to the height of the road, If I built a pond where I’m standing taking this pic. And also 8-10ft wide berm all the way along fence row to the woods. At the woods it’s high enough the water wouldn’t make it around berm.

 

[TomtheElder]

The best advice you have received is to talk to the County. Do that before you do anything else - it could change your thinking about everything else.

Almost anything you are thinking of doing is speculation until you KNOW the elevations. There are plenty of DIY survey videos and good quality survey equipment can be rented.