9 Reasons why a Dam Dries Up
Those that live on the land are not unfamiliar with periods of drought. In these times it is imperative to sustain as much water as possible. Below are some tips on how to maintain your dam and keep water in it.
Tips to keeping water in your dam
Like a chip on your windscreen, if you fix it sooner rather than later you’ll likely avoid having to replace the entire windscreen should that chip turn into a crack.
Dam Stop Leak Professional is a cheap, innovative way to seal leaking dams. If you notice your dam water dropping, it could be a leak. Dam Stop Leak Professional is the quick solution to plugging up your dam before an excavator is called.
Dam Maintenance:
1. Always keep water in dam – Do not allow any earth dam to dry out. This can induce cracks by the clay contracting when dry and then expanding when wet and not forming a proper seal.
2. Minimise wave action – harden dam edges by laying geofabric, stone, sand or establish runner grasses up to the edge of the water. Consider strategically planting trees to minimise prevailing wind impact.
3. Manage turbidity – Turbidity is a clear indicator that there may be erosion which can lead to significant issues with water quality as well as dam wall stability.
4. Spillway maintenance – Good, hardy vegetation will help manage and guide the spillway back to the drainage line. Vegetation can also prevent erosion.
5. Rabbit damage – dig out rabbit burrows and infill with clay based material. Implement a rabbit management plan to reduce the population on your property.
6. Monitor dam for seepage – wet spots in the wall or at the toe of the bank indicate that water is moving through. You can localise treatment with Dam Stop Leak to these seepage areas.
7. Slumping – indicative of poor compaction, excessive seepage and excessive steepness of bank. May require earthworks to repair.
8. Stock traffic damage – Stock tend to follow the same path to and from a water source. You can manage their impact by routing them to a select pathway, fencing off restricted areas, alternating stock routes, installing a reticulation system and planting vegetation such as grass.
9. Topsoil – Maintain layer of topsoil around dam edges. Only grow low growing plants around dam edges to prevent root seepage.
