How difficult is it to dig a ditch

[fitz19d]

Or actually more like a small retention pond or whatever else one would suggest. Can maybe get my dads kybota out here, or else rent. Or break down and pay if it's more complicated than I thought. From our home inspection, I knew this would need to be addressed. Couldnt go out, so not sure if there's someplace good to drain to, so I'm assuming some kind of retention. (Maybe would hold enough water to become a 2nd pond and maybe put to some kind of good use? Summertime fish farming?

But trying to decide on what kind of price to ask on a concession for it.

[Hummer]

If that were dry ground I'd say dig into it but that looks like a very inviting place to get badly stuck with a little tractor. A local backhoe/excavation outfit with experience in building and lining ponds might be your best option, time, trouble and money wise.

[ray1970]

Hmm. I?d be a little leery of dealing with any sort of drainage situation without maybe consulting with a civil engineer first.

But to answer the question, with the right equipment digging dirt is easy. Now, digging it properly and working slopes are angles takes experience.

Good luck.

[Erni]

What Ray said. Find a civi who specializes in water mitigation or floods. Have them size it and locate it. They might even find you options that don?t involve a pond.

[ray1970]

What Ray said. Find a civi who specializes in water mitigation or floods. Have them size it and locate it. They might even find you options that don?t involve a pond.

Not to mention keeping you out of any possible legal issues with nearby property owners.

My parents had a business next to their residence do some work on their property which resulted in my parents property flooding every time it rained. Let?s just say it wasn?t the best situation for the business owner. I imagine had they consulted with an expert first he may have been able to anticipate the potential impact to surrounding properties.

[00tec]

Looking at that place on maps, it looks like you're likely going to have to make it into a pond around that shop. It's difficult to see the terrain, but it doesn't look like there's a great place for the water to go, except toward the street, which doesn't appear to have much of a ditch.if it just runs over the road, the farmers across the way probably aren't going to like you much if you turn their field into a puddle

[Gman]

What if...it's a spring?

[Bailey Guns]

2 of my wife's sons dig ponds ("tanks" in Texas) and do other excavation work for a living. Unfortunately, they're down in central TX. Check the OK forum to see if someone can help you.

[Seamonkey]

Increase the ability of the soil to retain water by adding plants with long tap roots to bust the soil downwards. Add organic material to help the retention. Dale Strickler is a good online resource.

The water holding capacity of organic matter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw3Kcx8A7aQ

Maybe you've found your new garden area if that's where the water drains to? Once you've been able to reduce the surface flooding at least.

One YouTuber dug a hole the size of a trash can and would pump the water out to use watering their trees.

[earplug]

Some people make ponds to aid in firefighting. Colorado has strange laws on water rights and landowners holding water. Is it yours to hold?
In a decades old drought i'm curious where the water is coming from?