Had another thread about reshaping a ditch and the suggestions came in on what I should do to achieve what I want. The ditch is about 3 feet wide and about 1.5 feet deep. It used to be a swale but the state made it into a ditch. After speaking to them they said I could taper it down. My question is would a small set of drag choppers work for something like this? I am thinking about putting one set of wheels from tractor in the ditch and let choppers down giving it a slight angle. Would pass a few times to crumble up dirt to allow for a tapered slope. Has anyone had to do something like this and does the loose dirt stop up the flow for water to pass through? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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Posted by LSUtigerME

Walker, LA

Member since Oct 2012

3894 posts

Posted on 8/14/24 at 7:27 am to shoelessjoe

I’ve done the opposite and tried to steepen my ditch’s slope since in heavy rains it backs up into my yard.

Unfortunately, when you loosen all that dirt, it will absolutely wash into the ditch and clog everything up. I have an issue with this now, although it’s not terrible. Hoping to get the state to come clean out all our ditches since it’s been a few years since they’ve done it.

So, what you’re saying will work provided the tractor is not going to tip or have traction issues. But you will absolutely need to use something to hold it down. Erosion mats and silt fencing.

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Posted by gumbo2176

Member since May 2018

18078 posts

Posted on 8/14/24 at 7:58 am to shoelessjoe

I already responded to your first post that I'd till the ditch to break up any clods of dirt and then rake or drag it down to form a better, cleaner situation than the Parish has done because that looks like shite the way they left it.

It would probably only take 3-4 passes with a tiller to break the ground up much better than it is and pull it smooth with a heavy duty rake.

It's not rocket science and I'm betting someone you know has a tiller if you don't-----------and if they don't, rent one from a tool rental store for a few hours to get the job done.

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Posted by White Bear

Yonnygo

Member since Jul 2014

16370 posts

Posted on 8/14/24 at 8:51 am to shoelessjoe

Id use a shovel (based on picture in previous thread). And try and get grass growing asap once done sloping.

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Posted by doubleb

Baton Rouge

Member since Aug 2006

40280 posts

Posted on 8/14/24 at 12:56 pm to shoelessjoe

I recommend adding a drain pipe, covering it up and then backfilling it with the slope going to the ditch.

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Posted by shoelessjoe

Member since Jul 2006

10842 posts

Posted on 8/15/24 at 5:43 am to doubleb

My culvert is 18 inches and you suggested 4-6 inch pipe. Is this just to help when water gets to a lower level for drainage? Meaning once it gets low enough in ditch, it will act as a buried culvert?

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Posted by doubleb

Baton Rouge

Member since Aug 2006

40280 posts

Posted on 8/15/24 at 9:01 pm to shoelessjoe

quote:
My culvert is 18 inches and you suggested 4-6 inch

Never use 4”. It will clog too fast. 6” Carrie’s twice the volume. If you have a very large area to drain (upstream) go with 8”
.

quote:

Is this just to help when water gets to a lower level for drainage? Meaning once it gets low enough in ditch, it will act as a buried culvert?

By putting in pipe and backfilling to a gentle slope you will be able to gain a gentle slope to the ditch that you can easily mow over.

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