A slippery slope.

[bumperm]

I have a couple of artesian springs coming out of slopped ground near the base of a mountainside on a 20 to 25 degree slope. The water seeps out of the saturated ground across a broad area. Probably a hundred years ago, ranchers dug a series of "tree branch like" collection ditches that fan out away from the collection or diversion point of the spring. I'd like to back my tractor and hoe up there to dig some more feed channels - I'm too old to dig by hand :c).

The ground under the first thin 1" top layer saturated like a sponge for more than 8" of slimey decomposing black muck. This stuff will pack the tire tread to make racing slicks. There is zero traction when that 1" layer is compromised. I thought about laying planks down it to make a road of sorts. Can't go cross hill or risk sliding sideways as the tractor will slide and roll for sure. There are aspen trees, that are shallow rooted, though if I attach a line near the ground I might tie off and use a come-along to serve as a safety line.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[prof fate]

are you trying to drain/dry the area or collect the water?

I have a pasture that is similar - 3 different areas ooze water, and this being the third (soon second) wettest year on record it's been a rough year trying to mow it.

Many farmers bury pipe for field drainage - don't know much about it, but you can google and will find a lot of info i'm sure.

A middle buster is what some use, from my reading. created channels for the water about a feet deep, leaves the surface mostly untouched. If I had one I'd try it - nothing to lose.

Lastly would be making swales or ditches. Many ways to do it - i've been filling in 'dead furrows' in some of the pasture created when plowing in opposite directions with a moldboard plow. Sucks to hit them when brush hogging! And no, they don't run anywhere near the wet areas.

 

[/pine]

Given the same conditions...a commercial contractor would lay down timber mats to operate off of...if there is a sawmill around you may be able to use slabs to create some improvised mats that would support your machine...

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^ Not on that hill. Just a little mud on that wood and you will have a nice ski slope.
If I understand the description correctly you really need a tracked excavator for what you are trying to do.

 

[/pine]

^^^ Not on that hill. Just a little mud on that wood and you will have a nice ski slope.
If I understand the description correctly you really need a tracked excavator for what you are trying to do.

Without mats (or something to provide traction) tracks will just spin in the mud...have to step the mats for the grade...

 

[Jstpssng]

He's talking about a slope approaching 50%; we generally don't even run tracked timber harvesters on a slope that steep.

 

[/pine]

He's talking about a slope approaching 50%; we generally don't even run tracked timber harvesters on a slope that steep.

The OP say's 20*-25*...easily doable with the right equipment...

 

[Jstpssng]

45 degrees is 1:1, or 100% slope; he's talking about a slope that is half of that. If you can easily operate on that with a rubber tire tractor you are either a better than expert operator, or have one extra special machine.

 

[/pine]

Don't need a geometry lesson...LoL...Again a 20*-25* grade is doable...

 

[bumperm]

The springs shift some over time. My intent is to extend the small ditches to gather the water that is bypassing the original ditch system.

Pretty sure a small tracked excavator would work, but would cost more in rent and delivery than buying the lumber to get my little backhoe up there (maybe).

I was hoping you guys would come up with a brilliant idea, like sprinkling Portland cement on the wet spots, (but one that'd actually work :c)