Rain and Dirt Problems

Awakening this morning, after a night of monsoon rains, I was not looking forward to taking a look at the Hole In the Wall. The Bear, then I, arrived to find the highest flood waters that we have seen this wet summer. Water had been directed to the right location, drain pit, but it was backed up to the gazebo. By chance, yesterday Lady Eagle retrieved a used fire hose from Val McLay. After making a quick trip to the hardware store and three trips to the Wolf Den Plumbing Shop, I was able to convert a portion of the hard water line to the new "soft" line system. The fifty foot span of hose is ideal to cover the area of the parking pad. At the same time, I converted the "hard" line to "screw" couplings which eliminates any accidental disconnects. Energizing the system, in short time the "fire hose" inflated to full size with a full head of water exiting the system. Then deflates flat when the pressure is reduced. It worked great and the time span of one hour and ten minutes, the area had been "de-watered". Now, my plea, if anyone is out and about and happen to cross paths with used "fire hose" (1.5 Inch), we could surely use three more hoses, if they come in 50 foot lengths. Threads on a fire hose nozzle are different, they are designed to couple together quickly so the hose we got yesterday had to be modified to work, but those hooked into a series would not have to be modified, except at the source. Set up time, five minutes to roll out and start pumping.

Sunday, again after a night of rain a quick survey of the new "depository" revealed a serious problem of erosion (note lower center of picture). A couple of wheelbarrow loads of material had already eroded into the pit.

On Monday, I enlarged the foot print of the depository foundation, in which the building foundation will sit by attaching 2"x8" planking around the perimeter and waterproofing. Covering the project for the night, I checked on it this morning to only discover a couple more wheelbarrow loads of material had eroded into the pit after the heavy rain. Tomorrow, I buy more lumber, I will not allow these little "set backs" keep me from succeeding. After giving it serious thought all day, the concept is now to make four pony walls that will be four foot high and suspend them from the foundation. The "pony walls" will not impede the drainage of the good aggregate that we have in the pit. The aggregate starts at about the 3.5 foot level. That 3.5 feet is comprised of top soil and clay, which is the material that is eroding under the water pressure. It if works, I will still have a lot of material to dredge out of the bottom of the pit. If the new concept does not work, then I will keep digging and extending the marine plywood walls until we hit water, then we will have our own well!