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Damming up creek in Hardwoods

6K views 21 replies 17 participants last post by  Glimmerjim  
#1 ·
I have a small ravine about 300 yards behind our lake that has a small creek running down the middle, Im thinking about taking the buldozer and filling in the ravine at the end of it to have a duck hole, has anyone done this before? any advice? im going to let the water flow through a 1' pipe and then seal it off when im done
 
#2 ·
I've never done it, but know you have to be aware of beaver dams on the pipe. some people run the pipe out away from the bank with a 90* fitting up towards the surface of the water to prevent beavers from plugging the hole with sticks and mud, might need an overflow gate or baffle of some kind though....
 
#4 ·
WoodyWhiffingMG said:
C.J. said:
I have a small ravine about 300 yards behind our lake that has a small creek running down the middle, Im thinking about taking the buldozer and filling in the ravine at the end of it to have a duck hole, has anyone done this before? any advice? im going to let the water flow through a 1' pipe and then seal it off when im done
That sounds like a good plan...

I would make it so you can empty it completely and plat food.
I also would use that bulldozer to make sure the ground you are flooding is all at the same depth.
^^^^^adding to my above post, you could have a removable top section of pipe on the overflow to lower the water level for the food plot to grow, then reinstall it and allow the creek to fill it back up before the season.... :thumbsup:
 
#6 ·
dakotashooter2 said:
Check with the state to make sure it is OK to dam it......... In some places altering any kind of a waterway is illegal without a permit......
First thing that came to my mind. Some states the water is property of the landowner per se, in others you can't own a waterway even if it crosses your property. Do I smell a section 404 permit from the army corp? LOL
 
#7 ·
Also be aware that trees can be flooded but not 100% of the time (unless you want them dead in 5 years). Periodic flooding in winter (to go along with duck season) is fine as long as the water is removed after a 45 or so day time period so the roots can breathe. Trees that grow in water adapt to the conditions and survive but once mature they cannot adapt to permanent changes...just ask the corps of engineers that dug canals through the Great Dismal Swamp and killed millions fo board feet of Cypress. Mature dry land trees that become permanently flooded,or the reverse where water is removed from swamp trees are doomed.
 
#13 ·
That
pirogue said:
Government crap.
you speak of is what keeps our cold-water fisheries thriving here in Northern MI. Much different down south for you folks, but up here if you dam a creek that supports trout, steelhead and salmon reproduction you risk increasing water temperatures and thus cold-water species fish survival. I'm all for "Government Crap" when if keeps the out-of-staters who buy property here and have no clue about sustaining our fisheries from screwing things up. :beer:
 
#14 ·
carsonr2 said:
That
pirogue said:
Government crap.
you speak of is what keeps our cold-water fisheries thriving here in Northern MI. Much different down south for you folks, but up here if you dam a creek that supports trout, steelhead and salmon reproduction you risk increasing water temperatures and thus cold-water species fish survival. I'm all for "Government Crap" when if keeps the out-of-staters who buy property here and have no clue about sustaining our fisheries from screwing things up. :beer:
Yep.
 
#17 ·
First, I like the idea of making duck habitat. A Couple things to consider. How deep/big will this pond be? Just make sure that should your "dam" fail catastrophically, it does not hurt anyone or damage their property downstream. Might want to have an engineer take a look at it. Hate to see you lose your butt trying to do a good thing.
 
#18 ·
Phytoplankton said:
First, I like the idea of making duck habitat. A Couple things to consider. How deep/big will this pond be? Just make sure that should your "dam" fail catastrophically, it does not hurt anyone or damage their property downstream. Might want to have an engineer take a look at it. Hate to see you lose your butt trying to do a good thing.
its only going to be about 50 yards wide by 50 yards long and around 1 foot deep aside from the creek channel which will be 10 feet deep. I bought a 6in pipe but realized that was not going to be big enough. I guess im going to have to go with the 12in pipe instead
 
#20 ·
carsonr2 said:
That
pirogue said:
Government crap.
you speak of is what keeps our cold-water fisheries thriving here in Northern MI. Much different down south for you folks, but up here if you dam a creek that supports trout, steelhead and salmon reproduction you risk increasing water temperatures and thus cold-water species fish survival. I'm all for "Government Crap" when if keeps the out-of-staters who buy property here and have no clue about sustaining our fisheries from screwing things up. :beer:
Better explain that to the beaver.