Burn the ditch or ?

[Caver Dave]

Our new place in VA has a 500'-ish ditch running between the gravel drive and a red dirt bank about 5'-6' above it. The ditch appears to be adequate (2'-3' wide x 1' deep & drops about 1' per 20'... no wash-outs across the drive), has a fairly rocky base, but is eroded in spots because>>>, and is about 85% full of limbs, sticks, and leaves.

Was thinking that dragging the remaining limbs/sticks down the bank into the ditch, applying a flammable (kero) and lighting it off in 20' sections (for control) would be the simplest means to get it "cleaned"...

Once cleaned, we plan to line it with "surge" (softball size rock) to cut down on erosion/slow, but think they will catch the leaves next fall?

 

[Loganwayne]

Our new place in VA has a 500'-ish ditch running between the gravel drive and a red dirt bank about 5'-6' above it. The ditch appears to be adequate (2'-3' wide x 1' deep & drops about 1' per 20'... no wash-outs across the drive), has a fairly rocky base, but is eroded in spots because>>>, and is about 85% full of limbs, sticks, and leaves.

Was thinking that dragging the remaining limbs/sticks down the bank into the ditch, applying a flammable (kero) and lighting it off in 20' sections (for control) would be the simplest means to get it "cleaned"...

Once cleaned, we plan to line it with "surge" (softball size rock) to cut down on erosion/slow, but think they will catch the leaves next fall?

I’d burn it, that said it’s middle of fire season for the southeast. Crazy sounding but it’s fire season just be careful, and wait for a day that it is drizzling


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[Croatan_Kid]

I just cleaned out a section of my ditch that had about 8 or 10 inches of leaves, pine cones, and pine straw layered in it. I would have burned it, but it had standing water under it. I figure once you get it cleaned out good initially then the upkeep wont be nearly as bad. I've got a LOT of ditches. 400' of road frontage, one diagonally across the property, and one down the far side of it. I feel your pain!

Not sure I'd line the bottom of it with big ass rocks though. That just seems like it would be aggravating if you needed to clean it out and water could wash out underneath it too. I think keeping it cleaned out so water can flow and be unobstructed would help the most.

 

[Caver Dave]

Not sure I'd line the bottom of it with big ass rocks though. That just seems like it would be aggravating if you needed to clean it out and water could wash out underneath it too. I think keeping it cleaned out so water can flow and be unobstructed would help the most.

The issue is that when it rains , there's a shit ton of water getting funneled down this ditch, turning it into a small stream (between the volume & elevation).
My neighbor lined his to cut down on erosion, but they're twice the size (width) and is a MUCH steeper grade... that keeps most of the leaves washed out.

Gonna talk with a local grading contractor (did my neighbors years ago) and get some feedback before proceeding

I’d burn it, that said it’s middle of fire season for the southeast. Crazy sounding but it’s fire season just be careful, and wait for a day that it is drizzling

Roger that... 4:00 p.m. Burning Law | Virginia Department of Forestry

Will wait until a little further into spring before torching

 

[Futbalfantic]

I would thing vegetation would help a whole lot more than rock. Grade it to be easy to mow

 

[rockcity]

You know, you can call the DOT and if it needs maintenance, they will do it for you especially if it’s causing drainage issues and eroding.

Let them do the heavy lifting and come back and make it pretty after they are done.



And to add, if the ditch discharged to a stream, you may be opening up a can of worms if you do it yourself. Depending on the disturbance you may need an E&SC permit from the state and at least BMPs/wattles/etc to keep turbid water from entering the stream. NC has a 50 TSS limit on E&SC discharge water, which is nearly impossible. Not sure on VA but it’s likely similar.

I’d say let the state do their thing and handle all of that. Much less liability For you.

 

[Caver Dave]

I would thing vegetation would help a whole lot more than rock. Grade it to be easy to mow

Given that it's super rocky, appears nothing will grow in it... save for a little grass at the road edge (gravel drive on 1 side... red clay/rock bank on the other).
Even if something would grow, wouldn't want to mow/whack it...

You know, you can call the DOT and if it needs maintenance, they will do it for you especially if it’s causing drainage issues and eroding <snip>

Private (blue sign) road... all governmental responsibility ends 1/2 mile down the hill.
Having said that, *everything* feeds downhill (multiple springs, rainwater runoff, etc.) into the Mayo River.
Given the huge amount of "trash" (derelict houses/barns, old cars/tractors/parts, etc.) lining some of the feeders around here, aside from oil/chemical contamination... doubtful they'd say anything (it's the wild wild west up here!)

 

[Futbalfantic]

If you're going to end up doing grading and brining in a lot of rock you may end up saving, making it easier to mow and bringing in top soil. And rocks = snakes

 

[C.Berry]

Our new place in VA has a 500'-ish ditch running between the gravel drive and a red dirt bank about 5'-6' above it. The ditch appears to be adequate (2'-3' wide x 1' deep & drops about 1' per 20'... no wash-outs across the drive), has a fairly rocky base, but is eroded in spots because>>>, and is about 85% full of limbs, sticks, and leaves.

Was thinking that dragging the remaining limbs/sticks down the bank into the ditch, applying a flammable (kero) and lighting it off in 20' sections (for control) would be the simplest means to get it "cleaned"...

Once cleaned, we plan to line it with "surge" (softball size rock) to cut down on erosion/slow, but think they will catch the leaves next fall?

I'd let fire dept know when ya burning and light it up to see what ya working with. If your not bringing land up or grading anything I'd go erosion rocks also, they will catch leaves but you can burn on the rocks any time and not have burn spots in yard...?

 

[C.Berry]

If you're going to end up doing grading and brining in a lot of rock you may end up saving, making it easier to mow and bringing in top soil. And rocks = snakes

Ehhh snakes aren't all that bad... lol unless they rattle or copper around here anyway!