More Erosion Control

dawn on the Pinals

Well I got up early and got started before it got real hot. I got another 1/10th of an inch of rain at my place yesterday evening. Not much but better than nothing.

I did notice that a big gully had not washed out in the bigger rain the other day, so I decided I needed to check the little ditches and check dams up on top of the hill.

I did some work on the way up. One small gully did wash a good amount of water down the other day, so I wanted to go to where it starts and do some work.

lower down

higher up

looking down

before

after

I'm making small cuts across the slope, as level as I can, to try and slow the water down a little so it can sink in, instead of running off.

Before

after

small earthworks

this old road cut has caused a lot of erosion.  I am pleased that the earthworks that I did earlier this summer are holding up.

I only have to work on a couple of areas.

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On this part there are 2 slopes to work on, the old road bed and the hillside next to it.

beginning of large gully

above the large gully

before

after

If we get 2 inches in an hour, all of this is for nought. But if it comes down slower, this should help.

rough country

Further down the road cut, there is even more erosion. I really need to get up on top of that slope and do some cuts up there. But it's too dang hot right now.

a really big gully

good morning bees

more of the big gully

Working my way down the old road cut there are a couple of really big gullies. Too big for me to do much about them, especially at this level. I will have to get up on the very top of the hill and work on the head cuts, then work my way down.

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After I got back to the house and cooled off I tied up the cucumber vines. 

Then back to moms house. My farmer boy helped fill up water buckets. He likes to play with the little chicks, too.

catching chicks.

chick wrangler

Erosion Control and More

rain gauge

I got about six tenths of an inch of rain yesterday so I didn't have to water anything today, yay!


So I spent the coolest part of the morning walking the creek rebuilding little check dams, trying to slow down the water. I know that is about as productive as re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic, but it is at least something. What I really need is a little tractor so I can get up on top of the hills, where the gullies start, and dig some swales.


But for now, mostly I sit in the shade and throw rocks.

small gully before

and after

I should have taken a before picture. This is the downstream side of the culverts. Due to everything that went on last year I never got back to this project, to put down more cement and rocks where the water shoots out of the pipes. When I checked on it today I realized that in 2 rain storms I've lost almost 2 feet of creek bottom and the water was undercutting the cement that was there. I had some rock piled up nearby, which was intended for the retaining wall, instead it went into the creek bottom. Over the next couple of days I"ll try and add some small rock and gravel to fill in the gaps, then cap it with some cement.

snacks, large red cherry tomatoes

I got another 6x6' panel wired up today, 2 more and a 6x10 panel to go.

compost chicken corral coming along

Then, my son let me borrow his big magnet, so I dragged part of the driveway for nails. I picked up probably four times this much. It is hard to use over the rocks and uneven ground but you can hear the metal bits clinking onto the magnet.

lots of junk

a farmer boy

I seem to have acquired a little farmer boy, my nephew Damon. He likes to help feed the chickens and has a bucket of potatoes growing out back.