We’ve decided to have a fence installed in the backyard. Here are some shots before we started:
After cleaning out the overgrowth and massive ivy patch we are able to inspect the area.
2 main issues are the river running along the back of the property when it rains and the sump pump discharge receiving 120 gallons of water per day during dry times due to natural springs. Much more is produced during wet weather.
Our current idea is to dig a trench along the back of the property and force the river along this path. The fence would be directly over this river. Line the trench with fabric and fill with gravel. Add 12″x6″ brick along our side of the fence to separate the river from the yard. Everything on the fence side of the brick would be treated regularly with weed and grass killer.
The sump pump discharge would be moved from the se corner 20′ from the corner running west through perforated pipe. This would run about 30′, and angle towards the river with a final discharge into a gravel pit at the river 3′ from the river.
About 2′ from the corner the neighbor is dumping his storm water onto our property. The idea here is to add gravel and river stone to guide the water to the river. Images below show the new river. Testing shows this trench shows no standing water after about an hour of rain.
+5 years ago we were draining the sump discharge into underground perforated pipe along this side. There is a spring in that area as even now it is always damp and squishy to walk. The discharge made the area even worse. Eventually the lawn service’s riding mower crushed the buried pipe and I came up with the ‘tank’ idea.
The existing tank is constantly full and when the pump runs overflows into constantly standing water. During the winter this becomes a 20′ diameter ice pond. Notice the hose: an experiment to pump the 120 gallons from the tank to various locations on the property to evaluate that location’s ability to drain the water.
Survey:
