If I can perfect my erosion controls just in time for the end of Monsoon, I’m in a frenzied hurry to do so because this is getting old.
I’m sure there’s a proper name for this thing. I just call it the wall. The idea is to divert the water and mud that’s coming down from the east ridge and going right under the Lair. It has seen three floods so far. The first just pushed my pathetic wall the hell out of the way.
I beefed it up, and the second and third floods were somewhat diverted in the direction I want them to go. But I’m still getting an awful lot of new mud in the yard.
So this morning’s job was to haul more rocks.
I’m adding a layer behind the main line, to strengthen it and catch more mud.
But most of what I’m getting at the Lair is still just blasting through that new erosion ditch, right past my wall. So I hauled up about five wheelbarrows full of smaller rocks and filled the thing. I figure even if I don’t stop all the water, I can slow it enough that it’ll dump some of its mud. And the more water I can get to turn left, the deeper it’ll cut a new ditch on the uphill side of the wall which is all to the good.
I’m curious, why don’t you use that big yellow diesel/hydraulic thingy and make a big ditch?
Seems reasonable, doesn’t it? Elsewhere I have done that, but Ian’s tractor doesn’t work well on steep/uneven ground (at least not with me driving it) and the Lair is deliberately surrounded by both.
Things that cost money but might help: erosion control tubes slow the water velocity and collect sand and mud, which are placed in a shallow trench across the top of a slope and pinned with rebar; tube sand which is used for weight over the rear wheels of a vehicle and then opened when the sand is needed for traction, also can be put in a shallow trench and the tube material on the ones I have is very sturdy and lasts for years.