Any landscape/drainage folks here?

[Capm_Spaulding]

We have some issues we are needing resolved and are looking for a couple of bids. The worst of which is some fast flowing runoff that cuts across our backyard in a “Y” pattern before reaching the drainage creek. I don’t know that a French drain would work due to the speed and volume of flow once it reaches our yard but am open to ideas, maybe a retaining wall to redirect it to the creek in an “L” shape to prevent it from crossing the yard?

Other than that we just need a few French drains for a couple of pooling spots and then to backfill the lost soil.

 

[Capm_Spaulding]

Hard to tell which is which, but this gives a general idea of what we’re working with. The bottom left photo is the water that just pools and needs a drain, and the others show the area of rushing water that flows towards the creek, but cuts across our yard first.

 

[TwoForFlinching]

Even a big properly installed french drain will still pool and run like that, but it won't allow water to stay pooled after the rains have gone. There's still a good chance you'll lose soil and junk with them. Sister had a similar problem at her place in Tulsa. We ended up digging a few inches down in the low spots, pour concrete water ways, lining with landscape rocks and filling with 2-4" decorative rock, made a riverbed for water to flow without affecting the soils. Hasn't had a problem since.

Since this runs right through the middle of your yard, you might add soil to bring low spots up to grade, then run a riverbed type channel from where it enters your yard to anywhere you want it to go.

 

[bigfug]

Even a big properly installed french drain will still pool and run like that, but it won't allow water to stay pooled after the rains have gone. There's still a good chance you'll lose soil and junk with them. Sister had a similar problem at her place in Tulsa. We ended up digging a few inches down in the low spots, pour concrete water ways, lining with landscape rocks and filling with 2-4" decorative rock, made a riverbed for water to flow without affecting the soils. Hasn't had a problem since.

Since this runs right through the middle of your yard, you might add soil to bring low spots up to grade, then run a riverbed type channel from where it enters your yard to anywhere you want it to go.

Yup, exactly. My brother does high end landscapes and this is exactly what he does. Riverbeds to direct the flow, little waterfalls etc. I think he even did a rock pool/dry garden at the top of his to gather the water and collect it, so that it would run longer after the rain, running sprinklers etc.

 

[Capm_Spaulding]

Thanks for the info. I’d like to save that as a last resort, but sounds like it may be numero uno.