Subject: lakes & dams

From: [email-masked] (Warren McReynolds)
Date: 26 Jul 1993 09:49:23 -0500

I have two questions:

The first is; should trees be allowed to grow on an earthen dam?

The second is a lot more general.  Can anyone share some knowledge/

wisdom/sources of same about the general care and feeding of lakes

and earthen dams?

TIA

warren mcreynolds

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From: [email-masked] (Marc Evans)
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1993 12:33:44 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (Warren McReynolds) writes:
|> I have two questions:
|> 
|> The first is; should trees be allowed to grow on an earthen dam?

In NH, the state comes and checks all dams on a semi-regular
basis (every few years). They have the authority to mandate
certain maintenance. One of the things that they mandate is that
all brush/trees on top or with 20 feet of the dam must be
removed. However, you must NOT remove the stumps from any trees.

There are numerous other things the state mandates too, but are
really outside the scope of this discussion (why do I know?
Because I have had to perform the mandated work on mulitple
occasions )-8 ).

|> The second is a lot more general.  Can anyone share some knowledge/
|> wisdom/sources of same about the general care and feeding of lakes
|> and earthen dams?

Most states have a "Department of Water/Wetlands" (or similiar)
which usually have free handouts about this type of issue. NH
even has a volunteer lake monitoring program (federally funded)
which continually checks water conditions and other
characteristics of the ponds/lakes/wetlands. You may want to
contact your state about similiar programs.

In general, lakes/ponds don't need a whole lot of care; they are
going to evolve on their own. You should try to keep detergents
(and especially phosphates) out of the general basin which feeds
the lake, as these will greatly contribute to weed growth. If
you already have more weeds then you would like, it is probably
too late. Do NOT disturb the muck on the bottom trying to remove
weeds, as you will stir up any phosphates/detergents which
usually settle there, and only contribute to the feeding of the
weeds/plants.

If you enjoy the wildlife on the water, try to leave the
shoreline as undisturbed as possible. The bushes and things that
overhang the shore are usually feeding grounds for ducks, geese,
and other *critters*. Putting sand onto a sloped area is also
bad in general, as it will almost always end up in the bottom of
the lake through errosion.

As far as the dam is concerned, try to keep some form of ground
cover on it, such as grass or myrdal, or something which has
enough roots to keep the soil in place. Watch for sepage along
the base on the back side (especially if the dam is built on top
of ledge). If you notice sepage, you may need to consider major
maintenance, such as placing a layer of clay along the upstream
face (usually requiring a bunch of permits, if you go by the
books). Keeping trees, bushes and large weeds off the dam itself
is a good idea, as the root systems can cause major problems. If
you have these already, simply cut them down, but don't remove
the stump(s), as you may cause more damage then good.

- Marc

-- 
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Marc Evans - [email-masked]           | Synergytics     (603)635-8876
WB1GRH     - [email-masked]           | 21 Hinds Ln, Pelham, NH 03076
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From: [email-masked] (Tony Wahl)
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 03:29:30 GMT

In article <[email-masked]> [email-masked] writes:
>
>Keeping trees, bushes and large weeds off the dam itself

Actually, once large trees have grown on the dam, the damage is probably done,
whether you leave them, cut and leave stumps, or cut and remove stumps.
You'll never get all the roots out and once the tree has died these roots will
slowly rot away.  If any of the roots have penetrated the core of the dam
(the impermeable water retaining structure in the center of the dam, usually
a dense clay), then as the roots rot you are left with a hole through the
dam.  Hence the importance of keeping large trees from ever growing on the
dam.  Of course if you have trees already, leaving them just makes for a bigger
problem sometime in the future as the roots continue growing larger and deeper
into the dam.

--
Tony L. Wahl                                                [email-masked]