Cabin Fever! (De-mucking, cont.)

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

What is the tile drainage system you refered to (demucking land?)

The river sits just a few yards below our house level, but the lake is actually above us.

-- Sue (sulandherb@aol.com), January 17, 2002

Answers

(Don't tell anyone, but I'm a professional soil scientist....shhhhhh!)

If your ground isn't frozen, I want you to dig a hole about five or so feet down. Cover it, and look at it in 24 hours. Measure the distance between the water in the hole and the soil surface. If it's too cold there in Conneticutt, you'll have to wait until next spring to do this little test. In the mean time, contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency or USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. They are usually located in the same office at the county seat. Ask them to find your 6 acres on the county soil map and then have them tell you about the soil properties. If they say the soil has a shallow water table, ask them about tiling recommendations.

What is likely happening, it that the lake, being at a higher elevation, is keeping the watertable high in the landscape and soils that are at a lower elevation. The rivers are also likely connected to the ground water. The watertable is likely below the surface, but capillary action in the small soil pores can draw (or wick) water up to near the surface. Consequently, the soil may stay near a saturated condition much of the time. During warmer, drier weather this moisture may evaporate at a rate faster than it is wicked up from the watertable making the soil more firm.

At any rate, a tile drainage system is like a septic leach system in reverse. Trenches are dug to a depth below the watertable and perforated pipe is laid in the trenches. When the soil is saturated around the pipes, the water will move into the pipes and flow away to wherever the drainage system discharges. To be effective, parallel tile lines must be spaced anywheres from 50 to 200 feet apart depending on soil type.

Here's the rub, depending on ground water flow, soil hydraulic permeability and transmissivity between surface waters and ground water, a tile system at your site may end up emptying the lake.

Was the land you bought tested and approved for a septic system before you bought it?

--Happy trails, Cabin Fever

-- Cabin Fever (cabinfever_mn@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.


CF,

Your hushing "soil scientist" as if it's a dirty word. :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.


In our family being a soil scientist means that your own pond leaks:) (but all the others you work on don't)

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 18, 2002.

Okay, bring it on....it's pick on soil scientist day. That's perzackly why I tried to keep my occupation on the QT. Don't worry, I've heard ALL of the soil scientist jokes before. I have a purdy thick skin, so ya ain't gonna make me feel bad, anyhoo. --Happy trails, CAbin Fever

-- Cabin Fever (Cabinfever_mn@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

Ack, already the language on this post is getting dirty. Hey, Sue, go with the flow (as it were) and grow rice or cranberries, or some other profit crop wherein oodles of water at some stage of the development is a godsend. Hey CF - just remember that soil scientists know where to find the dirt on everybody!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), January 18, 2002.


Grow cattails and dry them for arangements.

CF, I have nothing but respect for your field of expertise... and have paid for services more than once.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.


Well that hole digging will have to wait for spring thaw! But yes, there is a house/septic on the property. We havent had any problem with the septic......but our well water frequently tastes "off".

-- Sue (sulandherb@aol.com), January 19, 2002.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ