40 Acres Project

This fall we undertook a massive project here at Willis Creek Ranch.  Our back 40 acre field had significant erosion going all the way from our east property line to our west property line right through the middle of the field.  On the west end of the erosion, there was a ditch deep enough to lose a tractor! In order to protect the land for future use, we knew something had to be done to stop and repair the erosion.  Daddy went through the USDA for plans on what was the best way to proceed.

The USDA drew up plans to establish a berm system in the field.  A berm is like an earthen dam that you can build to the specific height and width you want.  In our case, we chose to construct a system of 3 berms that would work together to keep the surface water from rushing across the land.  The berms are designed to catch the water, trap it, then drain it through an underground pipe to a creek on the west side of our property; thus preventing the erosion of the ground/top soil as occurs when water simply rushes with force across the top.  The berms (earthen dams) catch the surface water and don't allow it to cut through the land.

Work soon began on the project to build three berms on the 40 acres, starting at the east property line and working back west.  Incorporated into the berm system is a 12 inch drain pipe that runs all the way from property line to property line, underneath the field.  Each berm has a drain that attaches to that 12 inch pipe.  The berms are approximately 5 feet high and 6 feet wide at the top; wide enough to drive over.  The berms are designed to stop water from draining with force across the topsoil; instead holding excessive runoff water in temporary 'pools' between the berms to allow it to drain slowly into the pipe underneath.

Daddy also had the bulldozer operator fill in the huge ditch from the 1st berm on the west side to the west edge of the property at the creek.  That enabled us to reclaim that part of the field to be able to drive across it and sow it down for future pasture.  Quite a difference from before!  (You can actually see some photos of a part of this big ditch area at my old blog that is under 'reconstruction'.  You won't really be able to get much out of the post other than seeing small photos of the old 40 acres, but it might help to show some of the erosion problem we were dealing with and why something had to be done to reclaim the land.  Plus, the boys sure do look younger!!!)

The project was completed mid-October and has successfully done away with the erosion and the bad ditch.  It has allowed us to reclaim previously unusable pasture, which is wonderful in and of itself!  Additionally, it will protect the field for future use by eliminating the water erosion that was only going to keep getting worse over time.

Here are photos chronicling the beginning, middle and end of the 40 acres reclamation project.  

Before photos of the 40 acres

before picture - looking straight north from the entry gate to the 40 acres

before picture - looking toward the east end of the field
Where those trees are marks the big ditch running through the field.

before picture looking west - that far tree line is along the creek at the edge of the property

Photos taken while the project was underway

the bulldozer starting work on the first berm area

Look closely and you will see the yellow drain that will take water to the pipe underneath the field.

In process of building up area for 2nd berm

Building up area for 3rd berm.  You can see part of a ditch in front left area - that will be filled in.

1st berm completed - you can see the drain on the side and the ability to drive over top

2nd berm under construction

This shows the 1st and 2nd berms from the west side - also the beginning
of the deep ditch area that has been repaired and filled in.

the deep ditch area (where before you could lose a tractor!) that has been filled in and repaired

the end of the 12 inch pipe that runs underneath the property - drains into the creek 

where the pipe drains into the creek

looking back west at the area that used to be so terribly eroded

Not the viewpoint we usually have of the place!

Love this view of Willis Creek Ranch from the back 40.

Daddy driving us all around the 40 - surveying the progress.

Marvin checking out the location of another small ditch

Marvin brought back a soil sample from one of the waste areas... strange soil there!

Marvin and Daddy checking out the work that had been done.

Photos taken after the work was completed

Finished picture of 1st berm and area around it.  You can see the yellow drain and the straw mulch.

this shows the 2nd berm and edge of 1st berm finished out

looking toward the 3rd berm at the far east side of the property

how the filled in ditch ties into the 1st berm at completion

Jonathan, my wonderful chauffeur!  

an area of the pasture we have been able to reclaim and will fence in for horses

This is from the west looking east along what once was the big ditch - going up to the first berm in the background.  After it was finished, sown down and straw mulched.

ground is now leveled down and sown - where pipe drains into creek

preparing to build a new fence... corner post 

An eroded area back up on the field that Daddy fixed himself

He used the front end loader and took care of some smaller ditches then took a tiller and tilled it all up, leveled it out and sowed it down.  There are several more little areas like this that he plans to work on in the spring.  

This shows pretty much the whole project… the ditch filled in, the first and second berms and if you look closely, the third berm at the far property line.

Jonathan taking me back to the house...   :D