Never thought retirement would be like this

Meanderer said:
... What, besides the feed, would attract the deer enough to jump the fence? Does the problem lessen, during hunting season? (Or would the barn be a safe sanctuary?)
Click to expand...

Adult deer pay absolutely no attention to fences. They go over a 4 foot fence like it wasn't even there---even from a complete standstill. It's rather beautiful to watch them clear a fence so effortlessly. Just the little ones have a tough time at first. Mamma probably knows when they're ready.

My property is a safe haven for deer because I've got it posted. (Didn't you know deer can read signs?) There would probably be more deer during hunting season because they would be chased there from other property. And it has water. It's possible all the deer in the county spend the night at my place, and only go out for extra food in the day. I've never checked at night. ;)
 

Jim, I wanted to add....I am glad you asked me the previous question, because it made me re-read that article. This sentence jumped out...

"Permanent spinal damage (including curvature), hindquarter weakness, ... may be the residual effect of Meningeal Worm infection."

I've mentioned already that one of our current goats (Shorty) appears to have slowly progressing spine curvature, and doesn't walk quite right in the rear. He was also suspected of possible deer worm at the same time as the goat I mentioned, because he was rubbing on trees a lot and had the hair worn down on his neck, but no sores. The vet didn't put him on the full protocol, just one treatment. I didn't know any better at that time. I've found no other explanation in any articles. Not saying that's it, but at least a possibility.
 
Just sent an email off to the engineer because....

1. The diagram in his plan indicates keeping the lake water level the same as it was the day the surveyor came out. The lake is down about 3.0 - 3.5 feet. It was originally about 7 acres. His diagram shows it currently at 4.83ac. (Did he overlook such an obvious thing?)

2. He proposes using TWO 12" drain pipes. Previous contractor said ONE 12", or TWO 8", was sufficient. Current galvanized riser pipe is 18". He may be right on this. :( But nowhere do I see in this plan an estimate of the length of pipe needed. (Wouldn't that be a bare minimum of info one would expect in a plan?)

The reason the second is so important... retail price of 12" SCH 80 PVC looks to be about $28/per FOOT. Each pipe has to go from the bottom of the back side of the dam, up over the top, and down 10 feet deep into the water on the front side. That's got to be over 100 feet. The pipe only comes in 5' sections because of the weight. Retail price of one coupling alone is $169. Elbows are even higher. I'm sure the contractor can get it cheaper, but still... {sigh}

OTOH, I would much rather get this project done than have a new truck. Ha!
 

Nancy, I understand your desire to look at the cost, but you pay an engineer to size it right. If it is undersized to save money, and fails, then you lose. Wait and see what he says. Good luck!
 
Meanderer said:
Nancy, I understand your desire to look at the cost, but you pay an engineer to size it right. If it is undersized to save money, and fails, then you lose. Wait and see what he says. Good luck!
Click to expand...
You are right. And future owners of this property will thank me one day. This may be my only legacy. Ha!

Getting the water level right is important. If the engineer made a mistake on that, then what else might be wrong? Or IS it a mistake? Maybe new regulations say the dam in not good enough anymore for that water level. IF that's the case I might want to rethink this whole thing.

Mistakes were "frowned upon" in my family, because mistakes usually cost money. I'm trying to get over worrying about making mistakes, but it's hard. I just get the feeling that all this planning may be just to satisfy some requirement that "a plan" was made.

The engineer is probably sitting in his office right now reading my email, saying to his colleagues, "Wow!!! A customer actually read our plan!" ;)
 
Meanderer said:
I love it.....
Click to expand...

Me too. :)

Got a reply this morning:

Hi Nancy,

These are great questions. I will be glad to meet with you to go over the plans if it helps.

1. Our surveyor marked the old normal pool waterline by using the vegetation around the edge so it should be really close to what it was before. The current water level is a couple of feet lower that what he assumed was the old normal pool. We can make sure that the contractor knows to set it at the old waterline elevation.

2. I will have to check the numbers on the 8" pipes. I will let you know.

Thanks
(Engineer)
Click to expand...

I know what happened now. The old riser pipe broke off in two stages. First stage many years ago, and then again just 2 or 3 years ago. If the surveyor only checked the vegetation on the dam, he no doubt saw the newest old water line. The ground on the dam is smooth and solid, unlike anywhere else around the lake, and vegetation has grown up over the older water line there now.

For what he is charging for this plan, I sort of assumed they would have checked with whoever approved the plans on the original construction. There had to be a permit filed somewhere. Heck, the neighbor down stream showed up with that plan when we did the fencing.:rolleyes: They shouldn't just trust what I say, either.

Maybe I should get a can of orange spray paint and mark the old line. ;)

I'm happy now.:banana:
 
Sent an email to Engineer explaining about the TWO water level lines, that I would mark the older one, and that whatever he recommended for the pipe size was fine with me. Received this email just now...

Nancy,

We can make it work with one 12" siphon. Having two reduced the amount of flow through the emergency spillway during heavy flows. We can talk with (Contractor) about the pipe.

Thanks
(Engineer)
Click to expand...

Other than the time the drain got stopped up, I can only remember maybe one time, many years ago, that water might have gone over the spillway due to rain.

However, after thinking about it, I had almost decided two pipes might be the way to go. For example, what if one stops up? Then you've got the other as a backup. If you can't be there every day that would be nice. OTOH, you've got twice the chance of a pipe stopping up. Ha!

I don't mind spending extra money on once-in-a-lifetime jobs. But things like automobiles...:p
 
Nancy, I have loved reading your Diary from the very beginning! I always check the "New Members" thread and then your Diary Thread! I have to ask a question...does your dam over flowing cause any flooding to neighbors, roads, etc? Is it a "Big" lake?
 
Hi Maggiemae! Thank you for stopping by. :rose: Such a nice compliment.

The lake is about 7 acres when full. The water flows into a pretty good sized creek that runs through a deep valley in woods. There is only one neighbor that actually lives downstream, and from there on is just vacant land. His house, and his brother's house, are far up on a hillside. No danger of flooding any houses or roads, even if the whole dam collapsed (thank goodness). It would just make for a whole lot of muddy water in the creek. ;)
 
[h=1]The Eerie Earthworms of Hawkinsville, Georgia[/h]
W1siZiIsInVwbG9hZHMvcGxhY2VfaW1hZ2VzLzlhNGFmMmU5MWRmYzhjZDIxMl90dW1ibHJfbG84dDRxSTlMSDFxYzZqNXlvMV81MDAuanBnIl0sWyJwIiwidGh1bWIiLCJ4MzkwXHUwMDNlIl0sWyJwIiwiY29udmVydCIsIi1xdWFsaXR5IDkxIC1hdXRvLW9yaWVudCJdXQ
W1siZiIsInVwbG9hZHMvcGxhY2VfaW1hZ2VzLzlhNGFmMmU5MWRmYzhjZDIxMl9oYXdraW5zdmlsbGVfcHVsYXNraV9nYV9lZGl0LmpwZyJdLFsicCIsInRodW1iIiwieDM5MFx1MDAzZSJdLFsicCIsImNvbnZlcnQiLCItcXVhbGl0eSA5MSAtYXV0by1vcmllbnQiXV0
 
MY GOODNESS, where do you find these things?!!

"Beneath the surface, something slithers. And if you find it, prepare to be slimed and glowing (blue)."

:lol1:

I was ready to go find a stake and flatiron, until I read you need sandy soil for those worms. We have RED CLAY here. Poo! :(

Heading off soon to get orange spray paint, and then out to the dam to give a crack at searching for very old water lines.
 
Last edited:
Perfect! :D

attachment.php

This job turned out to be much harder than I thought. For one thing the dam is covered in dead briars (sprayed earlier), so you can barely see the ground. The only thing worse than walking through briars, is walking through dead briars, because they grab you and you can't get loose. Thought about calling 911 once, but it was a dead zone.;) I got loose anyway.

It's easy to see the old water line anywhere BUT on the dam. I need a line right where the pipe is to pass through the dam. Marked the line on each side of the dam and tried to work my way to the middle, but got lost. I finally guesstimated, and it looks about right, but I'll need another day to double check. Two more cans of spray, and maybe drag out the scythe again.

You could measure vertical height by looking at the water marks on the dock supports, but how do you translate that to make a mark on a slope without fancy equipment? I doubt seriously the surveyor will come back out.

Wonder how the Egyptians would have done it? (Cavemen might be closer to my abilities)

No pictures today.
 
According to the engineer's comment, if I asked for THREE pipes, I should be able to mark the line even higher? :yes:

b3a3b7b6ebdc5043a5ce2e8cb966e9a7.jpg
 
Pappy said:
This might be a touch illegal.
Click to expand...

:lol1:

Pappy, you just solved my outhouse problem from way back when I first joined here.

You probably don't remember, but I was in the process of rebuilding on old outhouse at the cabin, then things got in the way. Speaking of things in the way, I've still got the pieces scattered around here and there. :rolleyes:
 
I'm like a 78 record running at 45 today, typing with one hand. I'm allergic to sympathy, so hesitate to mention this, but I've finally resigned myself to taking this little finger numbness thing seriously, because I can't type A's anymore. Hmmph! Decided no bending of elbow, as of last night. Already modified that to 45[SUP]o[/SUP], and then 90[SUP]o[/SUP] , occasionally. Try putting on pierced earrings (oops, one quick modification to 180[SUP]o[/SUP]). :rolleyes:

Goofing off today, but have to check on the goats tomorrow afternoon. Won't be able to resist more water line searching, plus, alfalfa pellets are on sale through tomorrow. {sigh}
 
Meanderer said:
Forget the Alfalfa pellets!:)
Click to expand...

Aww gee! But they're 20% off. :please: .... My mother always said to just say "Yes," and then do whatever you want,..... but I never do that. :whome:

Good old Alfalfa! I watched all The Little Rascals shows on TV in the 50's. In fact, I think I even vaguely remember that frog episode.:lol:
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top