Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations low water crossing

Anyone have any techniques or stories about construction of such crossings and the do's and don't of how and when- this is just a private crossing of creek on property and aim is to have a creek crossing for the 90% of time that creek is not flowing- ????

Your local NRCS office can probably
give you info on low water crossings.
I had a crossing included in my CRP
plan, but decided against it since I
wanted a crossing outside the CRP area.
I constucted a crossing by having a dozer
taper the banks and then covering the creek
bed with crushed limestone. I know the
NRCS plan called for using concrete.

I used a bunch of flat rocks. However, I have no shortage of rocks.

I don't know if this is what you mean, but this is what I did...

What's the crossing for? A farm tractor? I have seen low water crossings where you lie unopened bags of cement in the creek bed to create 'tracks' or a path to drive across. No need to mix the cement - it hardens in place from the creek water.

Jersey,

Dang nice picture, very nice. I'm looking to build something just like that, based on recommendations from you and others on the Forum. Looking for the culverts now. Can only hope it turns out half that nice.

My small knowledge of creek crossings is based on one at the base of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming.

They pulled an old flat bed trailer across the stream (creek) at low water flow and removed the axles-wheels-etc.

They placed local rock, boulders, and wood on and around the area so there is no evidence of the trailer. Very nice, cheap, strong, and a lot of water can flow through when needed.

this creek is typical of a "texas creek" it is an unnamed creek which flows maybe twenty five miles through the country side draining thousands of acres - when it rains is is a mighty flooding giant(5% of the time)- the other times in texas drought it just basically has water in it, some deep pools, some dry spots. It enters my property and runs along the north boundry for about 800 feet, then turns south and continues for about 700 feet and then exits my property- a twenty acre tract that I am developing for future sale. So it basically cuts this twenty acre tract in half. It is about forty feet wide with banks 12-15 feet high. I can, at will, push dirt around and make my self a crossing but want to try to lay something down that will stay- with maintenance- it may be impossible for the volume and velocity that can be generated in a significant rain event or season is tremendous. none the less, where this creeks bends and goes south is my picked area. so i plan to dig a footing on the upstream side about four feet wide and four feet deep and fill it with 12 or 14 size rip rap and then covering those boulders with another layer extending up both bank sides and then placing some really big rocks on top of that to form a wall where the rushing water will impact my crossing -which i plan to be imbedded 5-8 rip rap, mixed with 3-5 rip rap. Then on the downstream exiting side strew large boulders. anyway that is my thinking at this juncture- dryer than hell in central texas but one good 10 inch rain will cure all that!!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously, I don’t know much about creeks in Texas!

When we have a drought in Minnesota, the grass turns brown and the pond drops 6 or 8 inches over a long dry summer.

Gail and I have a great time going to the races at Texas Motor Speedway, but, interstates and airports don’t give you much of a feel for pond reality…….

dbremer, next time you come to Texas Motor Speedway, let us know. Several of us can show you Texas creeks and ponds. That is, assuming it ever rains again.

Dave,

I'll try to take you up on that offer on our next trip!

I don't know much about Texas creeks either, but I feel pretty good about putting in the two 36" pipes next to the 60" pipe in the photo above. You can see that there isn't much water flowing now, but I had to chase two 30" pipes downstream early last summer.

jersey - your pipe would be twenty miles downstream once this creek of mine was on the rampage

Yeah, if the culverts can't handle the maximum flow, the rip-rap facing is history.

Prior to digging holes in the ground, I decided to stop up a seasonal creek. This was about 20 years ago. You know; back when it used to rain. During dry weather, I found an area that had some natural sides, about 12 ft. wide. Using a shovel and hauling good loam, I built an 6 ft. high dam, about 8 or 10 ft. wide. Didn't have a tractor in those days. Then I dug a "runaround". Next, I covered it with remesh and concreted the whole thing. I also sculpted a low spot for a spillway. Next, I rip-rapped the front using all sizes of rocks starting with hand sizes up to stuff I really had to struggle with and waited for rain. It rained and I had a work of art that backed water almost 100 yards. I stocked with bluegill and fingerling bass and life was good. Then it RAINED. I found nothing but big rocks and chunks of remesh and concrete. Undaunted, I did it again. Mama Nature gave me another spanking and I gave up.

I guess what you build has as much to do with what the crossing is used for as it does with the type of structure you build. Mine is the driveway to my house. If I can't get across, I can't leave (or get home). I also have to consider the possibily that a fire truck may have to cross it.

If you can get by with not being able to cross during high water, it would be a lot cheaper to lay down the cement bags. I did this in a creek about 10 years ago and it's still there today.

By the way, the 60" x 20' pipe in the center was $420 and I got it 1/2 price.

jersey- your crossing is great - nice looking and effective - all on a waterway that probably is controlable - mine is like dave's - mother nature will most likely savagely tear up any thing i put in her way - but my only hope and intent is to be able to salvage a low water crossing that can be maintained - for the purpose of "getting to the other side" to enjoy the2 1/2 acre pond that I am planning and beginning construction soon. tractor xrossing four wheel traffic and pickup truck - there is, or I don't have(I have been told )- enough money to put a bridge or crossing over this creek - so building a home site on this end of the property is not in the cards and not really necessary.- but it is a fun project and that is the objective!!!!!!!!!!!!!!