Question about drainage for farm-type people

[CathyA]

Our property is sort of the drain-off area for the farm fields around us, with a very large creek at the bottom. We moved here about 33 years ago, and there was a big metal drainage pipe that was draining into our creek. Well, the end of it slowly wore away and fell off.
Last Fall, in an area that is probably 1000' from the creek (and just over a little bank from the house) developed some deep holes, about a foot across. I thought they were dens of some animal. then I found a couple more too close to them to be really dens. They go sooo deep. Then we started hearing water flowing in them. Then it hit me.........the drainage tile from the farm field next to us probably broke underground and the water is just flowing out of it at the break. I'm thinking it could make the area pretty unstable. But if I approach the local drainage people, will they insist on digging up our land and installing another drain? Or is there a way to just fix the break? I think no matter what happens it will involve really digging up our woods and field. As it is, the water rushes on the top of the ground to the creek now too, which is fine with us. Any ideas?
Thanks.

[razz]

Who is liable for the drain maintenance in the farmer's field and the main metal tile or lack thereof? Watersheds are a huge issue covering large areas and impact water flow in so many ways. Do you have a conservation society or environmental group that provides input into decisions on watershed issues? You don't have to tell them about your situation but simply research the thought that governs policy making and financing. You will be having a lot of soil washout with that uncontrolled flow which will plug the drains eventually causing bigger problems.

Large holes create problems down the line that may be bigger than simple redoing the one area of tile

[Tammy]

My dad spent 50 years draining wet farmlands in Ohio. I worked with him a lot in high school. Sounds to me like a new drainage system is your answer here.

[goldensmom]

Sounds complicated. Fixing a broken drain in one spot is possible as we've done it. Find the bubbling water, dig it up and replace the section of drain (can be done by hand but it is labor intensive, a small backhoe would work better) but depending on how old the drainage pipe is you might have more problems in the future and it would be wise to replace the whole thing at once. Is the field tile the old clay tile system or is it corragated plastic pipe tile? We have a neighbor farm that drains into our woods, not their problem because it is the natural lay of the land. Is there a county drain involved somewhere? That may need addressing. The wetland thing, we had a portion of land that flooded because of a county drain backup and we were told that we couldn't drain it because it is now a wetland. The county finally dredged the drain and it fixed the problem.

[CathyA]

Thanks everyone. DH thinks it's not from a broken drain. He thinks the holes were started by animals, and then made worse when the flood waters ran over them. But there are at least 3 big holes only 2' apart. I don't think animals make more holes so close to their other holes. Oh well........for now I'll pretend it's nothing serious.

[goldensmom]

Thanks everyone. DH thinks it's not from a broken drain. He thinks the holes were started by animals, and then made worse when the flood waters ran over them. But there are at least 3 big holes only 2' apart. I don't think animals make more holes so close to their other holes. Oh well........for now I'll pretend it's nothing serious.

By the description you gave in your OP, I think you are on the right track but until your husband comes around to your way of thinking (and when he does he will think he’s the one who figured it out) just think of it as a new eco-system. That’s what I did when the flooded are on our land was deemed a wetland before it drained on its own.

[CathyA]

LOL goldensmom...............That's how I'm trying to think of all the invasives that have taken over our property. There's just no fighting them anymore in such numbers without engaging the core of engineers (bush honeysuckle/greenbriar/garlic mustard, etc., etc.).........so I'm trying to view it as evolution and enjoy what I can about it. The incredible erosion in the creek that passes through our property with 6 90 degree turns is causing trees to fall down and the creek's width has increased by almost 100%....and is getting close to our finger system. We're just glad the beavers haven't shown up again yet (knock on wood).