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Making a Wetlands #7361852 11/29/18 03:00 PM
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thomas_z71 Offline OP
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Gents, Father In Law has given permission to try and get some ducks on their property. I'm sorry I don't have a drone for better pics. They have about a 20 acre pasture that all slopes straight back toward a creek that runs in the trees. The small separated grove of trees is always under a few inches of water(FIL says there's a spring under it?) I took the second pic to show that in my plan I would cut through that to where that water would flow straight toward the group of trees. My plan is to dam up about 2/3 around that grove of trees and then basically just let it flood to who knows where? I figure a 6' dam if flooded would fill a good couple acres. I've never driven a tractor before...he says we can rent a dozer and or operator if the price is right. What thoughts are with so much slope in the land you really only need to lead the water to it, not so much dig a hole for it to collect if that makes sense. I figure we could just cut through the berm, see what happens in the spring with rain, and then go from there? I'm a newb so any advice at all is good. It would just make it a ton more special if I can somehow do myself. I'd take great pride in taking my kids to something that I made for them.

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Re: Making a Wetlands [Re: thomas_z71] #7361871 11/29/18 03:19 PM
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texasgal Offline
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If you get a GOOD dozer operator, not just a dirt pusher, they can look at (or survey) the land or read the USGS map and make recommendations. Or look at a topo map yourself, the land can some times fool you. Sounds like a great project!

Re: Making a Wetlands [Re: texasgal] #7361921 11/29/18 03:58 PM
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Find a guy that has built levee damns before and they can make quick work of something like this...Also look at a pump to flood the area...you dont need much just sheet water.....Delta in your area can probably give you names of guys that do that kind of work.. Is the creek wet year around.??
Looks like you have potential with a sloping area and a creek...Does the area have ducks normally..??


Last edited by easton1025; 11/29/18 04:00 PM.
Re: Making a Wetlands [Re: thomas_z71] #7361949 11/29/18 04:15 PM
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thomas_z71 Offline OP
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It's in Fairlie Texas, there is a tiny stock pond(deep) next to the house that I've seen ducks on only twice in the many years I've stayed there. I don't consider that any indication though b/c it's small and deep, not ducky. There's also no food around it. It's about 20 min or so from Cooper which is probably the closest big water so I'm really not sure of the duck traffic through there. I couldn't tell you if the creek is full year around, it's very small.

Re: Making a Wetlands [Re: thomas_z71] #7361979 11/29/18 04:45 PM
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looks like a fun project! good luck and keep us updated on progress! i have got a buddy that just built himself a wetland. check out habitat flats videos, may give you some ideas. also check with local biologists as they can give you ideas on foods to plant and more ideas.

Re: Making a Wetlands [Re: thomas_z71] #7362390 11/30/18 12:04 AM
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very possible, meet and real dozer man and yall can shoot points and grades together, put different thoughts together and come up with a plan. Levee will probably not need to be 6' high. Where is this project located? I do dozer work and have done a thing or two with wetlands. feel free to PM me with any further questions. Depending on location, I may be able to help you out from surveying, to dozing, planting/disking, to flooding. Will need to do a brief grade shooting/topo survey of the area to even begin with figuring levee height and surface area.

Re: Making a Wetlands [Re: thomas_z71] #7362399 11/30/18 12:12 AM
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What you guys plant

Re: Making a Wetlands [Re: thomas_z71] #7362429 11/30/18 12:38 AM
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You could try DU, they were willing to come do a quick survey and then send us recommendations before my wife passed. I have an acre pond that never has gone dry but was hoping to manage to flood another 2-3 acres with 6" to 12" of water...If you put a control structure in place, in the right spot you can fill with the fall winter rains and hold until spring...drain, plant, flood etc as needed to end up with a real duck marsh...BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!!!


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Re: Making a Wetlands [Re: thomas_z71] #7362957 11/30/18 03:53 PM
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I'd highly suggest you get DU to look at it, shoot grades and make a recommendation. As mentioned you can put a water box in the levee and help manage for moist soil plants.

Re: Making a Wetlands [Re: thomas_z71] #7363009 11/30/18 04:42 PM
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Since it already holds water you shouldn't have to worry about the soil. Have someone come out and shoot some elevations so you know how much dirt will have to moved.

You will want to be able to drain the water easily. That can be a pipe with a plug or a flashboard riser that lets you set the water level exactly where you want it.

https://www.agridrain.com/shop/c85/water-level-control-structures/

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