That wonderful sacrifice area you are planning could use some help! (See Home
Base - Creating a Sacrifice Area). Your attempt to create the perfect surface
for your horse’s loafing pleasure could be foiled by that runoff flowing onto
or through the area from upslope. Roof runoff may be deposited there as well.
Perhaps storm water follows a path that takes it through your manure pile!
Even mild storm events can send runoff traveling through your territory --
collecting soil and manure contaminants as it goes -- depositing them in the
nearest water body. If this is the case you need a water diversion.
A
diversion is simply a means of redirecting overland runoff around an area of
concern, and outletting it to a stable, suitable site. This prevents ponding
of water at the location you desire to protect, and reduces the quantity of
clean water mixing with manure and leaving the site as polluted runoff. The
goal of a diversion in this situation is to keep clean water clean, and
minimize the creation of dirty runoff. Diversions are also used to reduce
erosion and mud.
Two Basic Ways to Redirect Runoff
- Diversion Ditch or Swale -Diversions are generally constructed across a
slope to intercept runoff and redirect or divert it to another location. The
sides of the channel are carefully shaped and vegetated with grass to
prevent erosion. Diversions should be engineered (designed and sized) to
handle the predicted quantity of storm water that is produced by a 25-year
storm event. They are sized and stabilized depending on the water velocity,
soil type, and degree of slope. The potential outlet that will receive the
diverted flow must be evaluated for suitability and stability in order to
avoid creating or relocating a mud or erosion problem.
- Roof Gutters - Gutters are also a form of a diversion. Roof runoff may
be captured with a gutter and downspout system designed to discharge storm
water away from your barn and/or sacrifice area. Mud and contaminated runoff
from those areas will be significantly reduced. Roof gutter systems for
small barns may be outletted to one or more drywells if necessary. Large and
small facilities usually benefit when downspouts are connected to
underground pipes which outlet storm water well away from animal activities.
Contacts
Mark Cummings - (203)
269-7509, Ext. 301
Kathleen Johnson -
(860) 626-8258, Ext. 200
Barbara Alexander - (860)
871-4046
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