Franklin

Soil and Drainage Sustainabilty

Project

Paddock Drainage Management Guide

Paddock Drainage should achieve two objectives:
Check Dams How do I construct check dams?
• prevent surface water from entering the paddock
1. Install the lowest check dam first.
• direct water that falls on the cropping area away through a silt trap.
Ensure the discharge won’t cause
What are they? erosion of the channel downstream.
2. Set the spacings so the toe (bottom) of
Can I stop water entering my Check dams are barriers placed across drains to reduce
drain erosion and water runoff speed. the upstream dam is level with the crest
of the lower one. This means that on
cropping areas? Drainage Specifications for drains diverting
water from cropping areas and permanent
If drain slopes are greater than five percent (3o), check dams
or rock armouring are recommended to minimise erosion.
steeper slopes, the dams will be closer
together.
drains 3. Clear any vegetation in the dam areas.
Yes. Use cut-off or interception drains to divert
4. Construct the dams. You can use
water from the catchment area above the cropping
Catchment Area Water Flow Depth of Drain What they are not? concrete, or rocks and fabric, or sand /
block. Keep this water separate from in-paddock
(ha) (m3/s) (m) They are not silt traps. Sediment that collects behind the gravel / cement mix (preferably) in UV
sediment control measures, and discharge it into the
dams should be left to flatten the drain and reduce water resistant plastic bags. Crushed rock is
watertable in small volumes at regular intervals. 1 0.21 0.2
flow speed. more suitable than rounded rock. If
2 0.42 0.3 you are using rocks, they must be Management of drainage water on a property will There are three steps to minimising soil loss from
Recommended Drain Characteristics: 4 0.84 0.45 Check Dam placed by hand, and the batters (sides influence how much soil movement occurs during
rain. These guidelines have been split into two
the property.
1. Minimise soil movement within the paddock.
• Shape - to minimise channel erosion 5 1.05 0.5 of the spillway) must not be steeper
than one vertical: two horizontal. parts: Paddock Drainage and Erosion and Sediment • Plant cover crops.
use not 10 2.1 0.8
5. It may be necessary to first line the dam Control. • Retain crop stubble and residues on the
area with geotextile filter fabric before surface during high erosion risk periods.
• Longitudinal gradient of less than five percent (3o) Note : These figures have been determined for a Sustainable management of a commercial vegetable
installing the dams to avoid erosion. • Undertake wheel track ripping.
grassed drain, with a two percent longitudinal business requires quality drainage water and soil
6. Check dams are not suitable for • Manage soil structure and soil organic
How big does this drain need to be? slope (1o degree) that is 1m wide at the base and management to ensure soil movement (and
permanently flowing streams unless matter levels.
It is important to know how much water will flow has 1:1 shaped sides. The water flow rates are for associated loss of soil nutrients and soil biology) is
professional design advice has been • Minimise soil compaction and ensure
down the drain. This will depend on the size of the permanent drains with the ability to carry the minimised. When soil moves within or off a paddock,
sought, as they can restrict fish passage. adequate infiltration of water.
catchment feeding the drain. See Erosion and 100-year storm. If any of these characteristics there will be a loss in productivity, because the soil
7. It may be necessary to enlarge the drain 2. Manage water movement across cropping
Sediment Control for determining catchment area. change the drain depth will need to be changed. loses its natural characteristics such as water holding
so its capacity is not reduced when the areas.
check dams are installed. capacity, soil nutrients and soil structure and 3. Construct silt traps or bunds to minimise soil
Paddock Plan biological activity (i.e. it becomes loose sediment). loss.

Maintenance Checklist of key points for When soil moves off a property it becomes an
environmental cost to the community. Sediment and
These guidelines are based on current scientific
knowledge. They will be amended as further
Maintenance is very important for the success of your nutrients leaving a property can increase vegetation research results become available.
drainage system, and should be undertaken regularly.
Paddock Drainage in drains and leave silt on roads. The resulting
damage can be hazardous and expensive to remove.
1. Use cut-off drains to stop water
Accessways entering the cropping area. Discharge Acknowledgements
Accessways should be raised, and should not be sited in the lowest
Usually a number of measures can be implemented Special thanks to Les Basher and Craig Ross of Landcare
into the water table. Research - Manaaki Whenua for their contribution. Thanks to
point of the paddock. Refer to the Doing It Right Factsheet a3 - on a property to minimise potential soil movement.
2. Drain size will depend on waterflows in Brian Handyside, Erosion Management, Mike McConnell,
Accessways. The measures you choose for each block will be McConnell Consultancy Ltd, Steve Bryant and Tony Thompson,
the drain.
influenced by factors such as the block topography, ARC for technical input into this factsheet. Thanks to Wai Shing
3. Discharge water from paddock control Ltd for the cover photo. Thank you to all the growers and
cropping system, resource availability and risk
Contour Drains systems into the watertable in small
assessment of the property.
contractors who have helped us to compile and critique this
document. Thanks also to Auckland Regional Council and
volumes and at regular intervals.
Refer to the Doing It Right Factsheet a10 - Contour Drains for Environment Waikato for special contributions to compiling and
4. Accessways should be raised and
details. printing this factsheet.
located away from the lowest point in
the paddock.
For more information call
Paddock Length 5. Recommended maximum paddock Environment Waikato 0800 800 401 ARC Enviroline 0800 80 60 40
The length of cropping rows is important if the cropping area is on length is 200m on slopes greater than
slopes of two percent (1o degree) or greater, and/or rows are two percent. Franklin District Council 09 237 1300 Franklin Sustainability Project 09 237 1274
orientated up and down the slope. If the rows are oriented up and 6. Check dams are recommended for
down the slope, we recommend that rows are no longer than 200m. drain slopes greater than five percent. supported by Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association
Erosion and Sediment Control
Your sediment control Whenever possible: Wheel Track Ripping How do I construct a Paddock Silt Trap Detail Snorkel or discharge pipe How large should the pipes be?
management should include a 1. Break the paddock into Wheel Track Ripping has been The snorkel or discharge pipe drains the
number of components, with silt
traps as a final control measure.
smaller catchments with
their own treatment
shown to increase rainfall
infiltration rates and decrease
silt trap? silt trap between rainfall events.
Pipe diameters
100 mm
Catchment Area
< 1 ha
There are four components: How do I install the pipes? 150 mm 1 – 2 ha
measures and silt trap. soil movement. Refer to Doing It
There will be times of the year Right a4 - Wheel Track Ripping. • the bund or walls 1. The pipes are placed at the lowest 225 mm > 2 ha
2. Treat runoff from a
when the paddock is fallow. Silt When paddocks are fallow it is • the detention area point of the silt trap, and should
catchment only once, and
traps will capture soil moving discharge it from the recommended that any • the overflow or spillway discharge to an erosion-proof outfall. For larger catchments more pipes will be required.
during this period, minimising the paddock into a drain. compacted areas are ripped to • the discharge mechanism This may be the water table, a drain
loss. minimise soil movement. or snorkel. or stream. Snorkel/Discharge Pipe
2. Avoid crushing the pipe during

Silt Traps installation. The soil should be

thoroughly compacted around the
pipe by hand.
How big should they be? How do I determine the catchment area 3. Use non-perforated pipe through the
bund wall, for example, solid PVC pipe.
The size of silt traps or bunds will depend on the
amount of soil movement that could occur. This
size? 4. For the upstand, use solid drainage
is influenced by: This is the area of land that drains into a given silt trap pipe with six rows of 10 mm diameter
• slope angle and length or bund. If cut-off drains are not used to direct water holes, drilled at 50 mm spacings.
• size of area draining into the trap from above the cropping area away from the crop, this 5. Use an 88o elbow to join the upstand
(catchment area) area must be included as part of the catchment area. and the pipe. It may be necessary to
• soil type and soil aggregate size install a waratah into the ground next
• severity of significant rainfall events. to the pipes for support.
6. Ensure the top of the snorkel is
Planning
Check for cables, pipes etc before marking out
Detention Area 100 mm below the spillway.
Recommended Silt Trap Capacity the position of the silt trap or bund. Strip topsoil
This is the area where runoff from the paddock will
The following is a general guide where a silt trap There are three options for capturing silt before it collect and settle for sufficient time to allow any
and vegetation from the area and form a firm
is the only soil movement measure in place while leaves your property: sediment in suspension to drop out before the water
foundation if the walls are to be built up.
the paddock is fallow. For specific information,
please seek professional advice from, for
1. Dig a silt trap, which often means excavating out a
pond-like area. If pasture for stock grazing is part of your
drains away, through the snorkel or spillway. Benched
headlands can direct water into the detention area.
OSH considerations Don’t forget maintenance!
example, a Franklin Sustainabilty Project field 2. Build a long bunded area. rotation, consider erecting temporary electric Refer to Doing It Right Factsheet a7- Headland. If there is any potential for serious • Inspect traps regularly and after each storm.
representative. 3. Use a combination of these that provides the fencing around the silt trap during wet weather human harm as a result of installing • Retain at least 50 percent storage capacity.
these measures, you must warn people • Check snorkels are not blocked, for example with pine needles.
required capacity. - otherwise cattle will pug and damage the
structure.
Overflow or Spillway of this. Often the most practical way • Fix any damage.
An overflow or spillway discharges the excess water to warn people is to erect signage.
Catchment Slope * Row Capacity Silt Trap and Bund Capacity
runoff in major storm events and stops bunds These should be included in your
Area
< 5 ha < 6o or 10%
Length
<200m 50m3 / ha of catchment
Examples^
1ha catchment, trap dimensions
Bund or walls breaking. Select the position carefully to minimise property hazard list.
= 5m x 5m x 2m = 50m3
2.5 ha catchment, trap dimensions
1. They must be thoroughly compacted, otherwise
they can blow out in storm events. Compact
construction and later maintenance.
1. Position spillway so it is not in line with water
Check list of key points for
5 ha > 6o or 10% < 200m 100m3 / ha of catchment
=10 x 10 x 1.3m =130m3
5 ha catchment, trap dimensions
each 200mm of material added to the height
of walls. Usually a minimum of three passes
entrance points.
2. If possible, situate the spillway on firm, Erosion and Sediment Control
= 19 x 19 x 1.5m = 541m3 over the entire surface per layer is required. undisturbed ground. 1. Use several measures.
> 5 ha > 6o or 10% > 200m > 100m3 / ha of catchment 6 ha catchment, trap dimensions 2. Establish vegetation cover. It may be necessary 3. Ensure runoff discharges won’t cause erosion. 2. Minimise soil movement within the paddock.
= 18 x 17 x 2m = 612m3 to pin down coarse shade cloth to stabilise the 4. Ensure that the minimum width is 1.5m/ha of 3. Manage water movement across cropping area.
* Measure the slope as the steepest angle of the nearest 50m of land to the silt trap. slope face, and plant with grasses such as catchment. 4. Silt trap size depends on slope angle, slope length,
^These silt trap dimensions are one example only of how to achieve the required trap capacity. Yorkshire fog, Wana cocksfoot, Vulcan tall 5. Ensure that the spillway is level across its width. catchment area.
fescue, Browntop or Creeping bent. 6. Make sure you protect the spillway sides against
Note : Aim to maintain at least 50 percent capacity at any time for unexpected storm events. These measurements aim 3. If clay has been used it will be necessary to erosion, using either coarse shade cloth and sowing
to detain the runoff long enough to allow most sediment to drop out of suspension. The capacity dimensions are based grass or large rocks (especially in areas where soil Disclaimer: The comments and opinions expressed in this guideline are those of the contributers and do not neccessarily represent the
add a layer of topsoil over the clay. Grass
on current scientific knowledge, but do not account for different soil types. This will be amended as further appropriate views and policies of the Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association. No liability is assumed for any losses suffered by any person relying
research results are received. Refer also to Doing It Right Factsheet a5 - Silt Traps. establishment and fertiliser should be applied. type is silty or sandy). or acting directly or indirectly upon this guideline.