Fence across creek

Why weld at all? Hit the local farm store and grab one of the 6' sections of tubular fencing, Hang it upside down on a set of hinges to a

4X4 over the creek. Support the 4X4 with two posts driven in the ground and a couple guy wires. Same system used on the creeks/ditches around here. To secure it you use a gate latch on one side with a simple float attached. Water level rise the float trips the latch and the gate can open and let the crud pass.

That is more or less what my original plan was. Had not figured out a neat latch like that. The closest Tractor Supply store is over 20 miles away. There must be other farm stores closer, but I have not found them.

But making it with rebar will work and is not much effort.

=20 Dan

So what's 20 miles? Are you walking? ;)

-- As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another. Proverbs 27:17

Awesome latch idea- I'll save that one...

But no welding?? No arcy-sparky? Come on!! Please??? (Gotta come up with something to weld in this....)

-That is more or less what my original plan was. Had not figured out a

-neat latch like that. The closest Tractor Supply store is over 20

-miles away. There must be other farm stores closer, but I have not

-found them.

-But making it with rebar will work and is not much effort.

You might not need a latch. It sounds to me like the gate will be heavy enough to stop the dogs. If so, you might just put a large thin wall tube on the very bottom, that will float as the water level rises. Perhaps some thin wall 4 or 6" pvc.

I must have missed something. Is this debris catcher going upstream, downstream or instead of the fence mesh?

In my cloudy mind I would build a grate with large horizontal openings (but not large enough to let the smallest dog pass through) that would replace the mesh fencing in the ditch. Perhaps another 5 or 6 inches above the surrounding terrain even. The fence then can stay at it's full hieght and not follow the contour of the ditch so the dogs are still contained. This I have seen many times covering large culverts to keep animals/kids out yet let the water and smaller debris pass. In this case perhaps a "V" shaped grate with few if any vertical rails to catch the debris on. The float idea is really neat too but would not work with a "V" shaped grate at all. It would lend itself nicely to a rebar gate though that is allowed to pivot on the top horizontal bar. And as someone else suggested that is easy to do with a 4X4 post on each side of the ditch. Simply drill a hole through the

4X4s a bit larger than the rebar and let that act as your hinge. Of course you have to make the gate conform to the ditch contour..or get a shovel out for some manual labor.

Thanks for the brain teaser and I hope my ramblings helped a bit.

Kerry

{SNIP}

I need to clarify my thoughts more..the "V" shaped gate I mentioned above would have the small part of the V pointed upstream. This would make the openings longer on the gate allowing larger debris to pass easier.

A lot of good ideas.

Many years ago I worked with a tech that would breadboard circuits for me. He always made the breadboard as small as possible, and if anything had to be added , well a new breadboard was needed. So I changed my tactics, and would design circuits with every possible thing included. Say if I thought I needed a two stage amplifier, I would design it with three stages. Then when I got the breadboard I would test it and then take out what was not needed.

But in this case I am going the other way round. Putting in as little work as I think possible, and will add things if I have to. I sure hope I do not have to put in 4 by 4 posts. The creek bed is sandy gravel that fills in any holes. Going to try metal fence posts that can be driven in. They did not work on the old fence, but there should be a lot less force on them with the new design.

Dan

Could one use some of the navigational ones that are used as boat bumpers? They would have to be tough, and fastened securely. Some have grommets, and some have a hole through the center. Lightweight, and would allow the gate to fall back when the water is over. Not sure how they'd last being chafed by logs and other tough debris.

I think any way you to, you are going to have to go out there and clear it after every storm. Last sentence aimed at OP, now lost in thread progression.

I'm a woman trying to keep her dogs contained by putting a fence (that let's debris pass through) over a creek and county drain. Could you send pictures please. Also, explain how to make the latch trip in more detail. Thanks for any advice that you can provide.

I have developed a system, it is a gate/fence that goes across a wash/creek/river. It allows water, debris, soil to go through it, but keeps livestock/pets in. We are on the patent stage and then marketing. It may sound to good to be true. Both small and large debris travels though this system without damaging the fence or the foundation. No branch or tree is too large. Can be for small or large wash, creek or river.

Somebody posted a picture awhile ago of a swinging fence on hinges that allowed water/debris to flow through but also allowed the person to lock the fence in concrete when water isn't flowing to give them more security. I cannot find that picture but was hoping somebody reading this had it still and could repost it. I have a fence company coming out tomorrow and would really love to show them this so that we can have something similar. Thank you!

Low Maintenance Watergap Fence Across Creek

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