Water Runoff Thoughts

[DavidNPro]

As you might remember I asked a few weeks ago about planting grass on a slope. Needless to say with the incredible rain storms we have been getting the past month planting is on hold until further notice. Anyway these storms have brought up another interesting problem.


Basically there is approx a 1 acre lot next to me, that slopes at a gradual, but continual rate down towards my house. My driveway is at the bottom of the slope and is getting flooded and washed out every time it rains hard. The way I see it there are probably two options. 1) Raise my driveway up several inches, to the tune of 6-12, obviously this is not ideal as it will mess up the landscaping etc on the other side of my driveway. 2) Dig a ditch where the other lot meets my driveway and fill it with large rocks like #4's and then put a pipe from the ditch to a more appropriate drainage place. This ditch would end up having to be 1-2 feet deep in my estimation.

You guys have any experience in this area, or any thoughts on the two options I mentioned?

Thanks for the input.

 

[sdkubota]

Ditch to the side...building up your driveway will not have any meaningful fix. Dig the ditch, line it with non-woven geo-fabric and line the ditch with rip rap (rocks).

 

[Fossil Farm]

A French drain type ditch as you and sdkubota mentioned or a diversion ditch (basically a mound of dirt to divert the water away from your house) would work. You may want to check your states laws on surface water. In Ohio, water is suppose to enter and exit the property at the same location as before any construction activities, as well as some other water laws to follow. Of course most are civil cases and many of the laws do not get followed unless there is a great amount of damage and worth suing the "at fault" property owner. Just be careful of underground utilities of course.

 

[DavidNPro]

Another interesting thing I have noted is that the property I purchased has hundreds of bricks that would be used for walls etc, with holes in them. Trying to figure out if I could dig a ditch and line it or use those bricks in some way to prevent the ditch from washing away. Maybe just putting the bricks in randomly would work? I doubt that would work as well as various size rocks to prevent the washing away.

Was just thinking outside the box, as if not I will have to borrow my friends truck and haul the bricks to his strip cut and bury them.

 

[DavidNPro]

A French drain type ditch as you and sdkubota mentioned or a diversion ditch (basically a mound of dirt to divert the water away from your house) would work. You may want to check your states laws on surface water. In Ohio, water is suppose to enter and exit the property at the same location as before any construction activities, as well as some other water laws to follow. Of course most are civil cases and many of the laws do not get followed unless there is a great amount of damage and worth suing the "at fault" property owner. Just be careful of underground utilities of course.

Yeah there should not be any issues with runoff as currently it floods my driveway, then runs into the catch basin at the end of the road and down to the stream below me. So i will just be taking and redirecting to catch basin/stream before it washes my driveway in the process. It will not impact any property other than my own.

 

[sdkubota]

Another interesting thing I have noted is that the property I purchased has hundreds of bricks that would be used for walls etc, with holes in them. Trying to figure out if I could dig a ditch and line it or use those bricks in some way to prevent the ditch from washing away. Maybe just putting the bricks in randomly would work? I doubt that would work as well as various size rocks to prevent the washing away.

Was just thinking outside the box, as if not I will have to borrow my friends truck and haul the bricks to his strip cut and bury them.

Bricks would work fine and if laid carefully would look really nice and allow for mowing etc. They could also just be dumped like rocks.