Posted 5/6/2016 07:58 (#5285550) Subject: Closing in drainage ditch
Mn
I want to close in a private ditch (man made) on my farm and replace it with a tile. The ditch only drains our farm. Is there any wetland or sod/swamp buster laws that I should be aware of?
Posted 5/6/2016 08:04 (#5285561 - in reply to #5285550) Subject: RE: Closing in drainage ditch
NE South Dakota Clark, SD
This should not be an issue, but it would not hurt to ask NRCS, since you are modifying drainage. The big question is how are you going to determine pipe size to replace the ditch? How many acres of watershed feed this ditch?
Posted 5/6/2016 10:55 (#5285818 - in reply to #5285632) Subject: RE: Closing in drainage ditch
Central IA
Better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I'd about bet if you go in and ask the nrcs they'll go out of their way to find a reason why you can close it.
Posted 5/6/2016 21:22 (#5286520 - in reply to #5285818) Subject: RE: Closing in drainage ditch
I said that once on different project,,,,,,,,, we had to put it back the way it was......... Got to pay for it twice and still ended up with nothing..... You don't mess around with those guys.. A tile is one thing make em prove it a ditch pretty hard to say it never was there.
Posted 5/6/2016 13:13 (#5285997 - in reply to #5285550) Subject: RE: Closing in drainage ditch
n.c.iowa
local neighbor closed in a shallow ditch here a few years ago. he tells a interesting story about the ordeal. going off of his story, I would check with the nrcs.
Deere6
Posted 5/6/2016 13:50 (#5286033 - in reply to #5285550) Subject: RE: Closing in drainage ditch
Has worked well for us in a couple places, only thing is tile wouldn't take all the water so we fill ditch mostly on but left grass where water can run in a big rain event. We didn't check with nrcs, maybe should have, as long as it's not on a main road I doubt they would notice it or say anything if they did.
Posted 5/6/2016 14:44 (#5286079 - in reply to #5285550) Subject: RE: Closing in drainage ditch
Mn
Thanks to all that replied, very helpful! I would be surprised if it was an issue with nrcs but you never know, so I'd thought I'd ask here first. As far as sizing of tile, I' will ask the drainage contractor his opinion. It is a short run with good grade so I was thinking 15" or 18".
Posted 5/6/2016 18:51 (#5286292 - in reply to #5285550) Subject: RE: Closing in drainage ditch
C IL
Are you in the US?
There is a distinction between a real 'drainage ditch' constructed in an upland area (tends to be a straight line, has a name like 'Union Lateral 4a'), and a 'modified dredged creek' that was deepened and dredged, but was an actual creek once upon a time (twists around. Has a name like 'Deer Creek').
If it is truly a constructed ditch where water would not naturally run except for the influence of man, you should be free to modify it as you wish. If an NRCS or other agent would tell you otherwise, I would dig deeper into their understanding of your site and the relevant federal rules.
Posted 5/7/2016 07:48 (#5286987 - in reply to #5286292) Subject: RE: Closing in drainage ditch
Mn
I have an existing easement signed when my grandpa built the ditch through the neighbors farm in the 1950's, It wasn't a cleaned creek bed or anything like that. We own the farm the ditch is on now so we want to replace it with a tile and farm over it. Thanks again
Posted 5/7/2016 05:47 (#5286827 - in reply to #5285550) Subject: RE: Closing in drainage ditch
SE Illinois
Good luck, NRCS is not farmer friendly, their function has changed over the last 50 years, like the man says it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission
Closing in drainage ditch
