Flooded horse riding arena

[haltron]

Recent abundant rainfall has left my wife's riding arena filling with water. We suspect the water table has risen and, as we see bubbling patches here and there, we suspect wet weather springs.

In previous rainy seasons we solved the problem by digging a small pit in one corner and installing a sump pump with a hose attached to drain the wet area. The current problem is much more extensive. Over half the 90' by 200' area is wet.

From searching old messages, we figure we are going to have to install a subsoil type pipe drain on the 200' long side of the arena. We have pretty much decided on using 4" corrugated perforated pipe with no sock or filtering material and going with sand fill.

I have looked for ASTM C33 fine aggreagate (torpedo)sand but the cost may be prohibitive. What is readily available is ASTM 136 Granite Sand (called M10 around here). Would that work and is River sand also an option?

Any suggestions or advice are greatly appreciated.

"Ain't nobody happy 'til momma's happy"

Thanks,

Haltron

 

[tsgrue]

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I suggest that you dig down using a shovel and/or auger to a depth of at least 4ft (6ft is better) below the surface in random locations across the area to see what the soil is like. If you could take some photographs and post them here, it would help. You gotta know what's there to start...

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tsgrue: site engineering, stormwater
management, landscape design, ecosystem
rehabilitation, mathematical simulation

http://hhwq.blogspot.com

 

[haltron]

I've linked to some photos of the arena and surface water for context.

The soil is Georgia red clay (we live about 30 miles north of Atlanta).

As you can see from the pics, the problem end of the arena has been cut out of a bank.

Our area is quite rocky. Digging random holes 4 to 6 ft deep with shovel and/or auger is a daunting task here. The probability of hitting rather large rocks along the way is essentially 100% speaking from experience.

Where would the holes need to be dug? Any holes dug in the problem area will be full of water more or less from the get go.

Thanks for your time!

Haltron

 

[tsgrue]

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If I am guessing correctly at your general location, y'all got a fair amount of rain in the last 30 days - around 8 inches (USGS 02390140 SETTINGDOWN CREEK NEAR BALL GROUND, GA -

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?c...rmat=gif_default&period=30&site_no=02390140).

Your analysis description of "water table has risen and, as we see bubbling patches here and there, we suspect wet weather springs" is probably close to the mark (at least the general wetness part - I am estimating y'all are in the upper Piedmont - if so, the near surface water could be the case if you've got a nearby stream/creek. Anyway, given the nature of your site from looking at the photographs and your description, instead of subsurface drainage - which would likely not work very well given the expected 'tightness' of the soil, you'd probably be better off bringing in sand fill (as you suggested) - the subsurface 'interceptor drain' would help surface traffic, but only with what is directly intercpeted. So, you'd be best to fill over that if you want to use that area - otherwise, slope around the area with a surface swale. I'll try to sketch something up real quick for you. The Georgia Cooperative Extension Service has agents who will be glad to help you with this at no charge. Countact your County Extension Center (phone book or web search for it) first and, if you can't find it, contact the main center at UGA (

http://www.caes.uga.edu/Extension/).

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tsgrue: site engineering, stormwater
management, landscape design, ecosystem
rehabilitation, mathematical simulation

http://hhwq.blogspot.com

 

[oldestguy]

Short of buying Torpedo sand,can you check with earth excavating or similar contractors as to their sources of "bank-run" sand?

Then, to check as to the relative permeability of the sand, you might try some simple tests of say using a container with perforated bottom?

Here is another test that I was once told works quite well.

At the sand pit you relieve yourselve when no gals are in the area. If it has disappeared by the time the fly is zipped up, it is good stuff.

 

[dgillette]

oldestguy - Is there an ASTM standard for that?

 

[cvg]

I use the "standard field percolation test method" all the time, mostly for determining the hydrologic soil group. It works quite well. Maybe it should be submitted to ASTM.