Alt Life Lock & Dam

November 11, 2014

the lowest dam, closest to the garden, started with 3 cinder blocks.

As a means to control the water from the run off creek that is home to the permaculture island of food we've been developing, 8 small dams have been placed upstream from our garden since last spring. We have used a modified version of the one rock dam as the theory behind these structures. Our food island did not flood even once this year, last year it was entirely under water multiple times. These 8 little speed bumps are distributed over the course of about a 1/4 of a mile of sometimes step run off. They have been started with minimal effort and as the sediment collects behind the small obstruction it is piled on top and used to widen the base of the dam. These photos were taken today after the last sediment redistribution of the year. It has not rained for about 5 days.

the next 2 upstream. the lower one was started with 3 cinder blocks and creek rock, the upper was started with creek rock and excess sediment from the lower dam.

the next 2 were started with a couple cinder blocks, creek rock and rusty old recliner springs (to catch leaves and debris)

In the steeper channels this little speed bump started with the rocks available in the immediate vicinity.

This one started the same as the previous speed bump; which you can see, further down the slope.

this is the upper most dam. It was started by felling a small tree across the channel and hanging wire fencing from the tree. Then stacking creek rock on the upstream side of the fencing. It has collected a great deal of sediment. There are run off pipes inserted toward the top in case the water ever get's that high. The water level has reached that stick laying just below the pipes after a long hard rain.

Procedure: Put up a speed bump. Sediment collects on the upstream side of the speed bump. Periodically use the sediment to widen the base of the speed bump and to make it taller.

another good water management resource = Let the Water Do The Work

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Ginny

11/11/2014 01:37:13 pm

Looking good. It was so great that the garden didn't get flooded this past summer.

11/13/2014 04:35:46 am

wow, congrats! you did it!
it's awesome seeing the two lower dams!
tink you should have had a flood pic from last year in there as well though!