Our neighbor upstream isn't real keen on conservation practices, so every few years we have to dredge out the creek in front of our house.  This sludge/mud/gumbo and dead grass will need mixed with a little sand so it has some drainage capability before we use it for beds or fill for low spots in the yard.   The past three years it's been way, way too wet to even get close to the creek, so we're taking advantage of this recent dry spell to try to get some of it cleaned up.

Once my husband gets done dredging with the backhoe......if the weather cooperates.....he'll run the pan scraper thru the creek and put a bottom back in it and slope the sides so it drains well and can be mowed.  Wish there was a way to effectively get rid of the Reed's canary grass, but think that's an occupational hazzard of living in Southern Iowa.