Should a drainage ditch be lined with rocks?

Question

My neighbor irrigates his land to the point of flooding for several months out of the year. Right now, I have a crude ditch that leads the water from his yard into a pond in my backyard. The amount of water flowing through is comparable to a creek or stream. Its quite a bit of water, and its very dirty with a lot of sediment and occasionally some floating debris.

I want to overhaul the ditch this year. Ive heard opposing theories though on rock-lining. Some say that filling the ditch with rocks will help prevent erosion. Others say the rocks just allow sediment to collect, creating a dam. Should I just have a free-flowing open-air ditch? Should I line it with a rock-bed? Or fill it entirely with rocks?

Whats the best way to create a low-maintenance drainage ditch?

If I dont use rocks, will I have to redig it year after year?
Or if I do use rocks, will I have to clean it out year after year?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Yes it's a good idea the rocks act as a filter for anything coming thru. It will help for erosion as well as keep your pond cleaner.

Answer 2

Rock Drainage Ditch

Answer 3

Well, if there's gunk in the water when you get it, that gunk will have to wind up somewhere. Either it gets stuck in the ditch, or in the pond.

If you FILL the ditch with rocks, you will basically be using a wall of rock to filter out the water before it goes to the pond. The sediment will build up in the rocks, and you will likely need to cneal it out (possibly even replacing the rocks) from time to time, otherwise the ditch will clog.You may also need to dig the ditch larger, as the water flow will be reduced by all the rocks in the way.

If you LINE the ditch with rocks, the water flow will not be reduced much, and you will be able to prevent a lot of erosion from getting dirt from your ditch to fill the pond. Debris may get caught on the rocks, and make a mess, which will be easier to notice, since the rocks will likely be a different color from the gunk. Cleaning will depend entirely on how dirty you can stand it to be.

if you leave the ditch as is, you will continue to experience whatever problems prompted you to consider using rocks.

I suggest making a crude upper lake, with a rock dam. All your gunk will get trapped there, and then you can have a fairly clean water flow going down a rock lined ditch to your main pond. the upper pond will need periodic cleaning of course, but the rest should require less maintenance.

Answer 4

I used rocks.I have found no sediment buildup and have not had to clean it out and it's been 2 years so far.I dug a trench than lined it with the rocks.

Answer 5

I would use rock (Arkansas River Rock). As far as foam, if it becomes bad buy enzymes to pour in to digest waste.