Update: The pipe through the main dam went well and may well be tested this weekend (see siphon thread). In hindsight, we made a few (maybe a bunch of) mistakes.

We should have made sure the pipe flowing out of the sediment dams extended beyond the base of the dam. Water flowing out of the pipe quickly erodes the dam below. I don't think that will cause problems as we added on in the mud to the one with worst problem; but should have done while doing it.

We should have used a laser level and shot all elevations before installing them.

We still need to paint the exposed PVC. I should have done that at the time.

I should have insisted on pipes through all the dams. I gave in and went with a primary spillway on the main one feeding into the lake. This was a mistake on numerous fronts. Despite it being on virgin Clay, it is eroding so we will have to redo this summer anyway. Also, I wanted to use the dams as a roadway around the lake during all but really muddy periods. The primary spillway prevents this. Not doing the pipes initially will mean we'll have to level and reseed again.

Lesson: Read on here and learn all you can learn from other's experiences so you are not out the expense and time of doing it over or stuck with something not as good.

[Linked Image from i108.photobucket.com]