Stream depth?

[jwright]

When building my stream is there a depth I should shoot for? I've read I should have atleast a 1" drop from falls to pond but wondered about depth?? I know once I add the felt and liner it will raise the bottom too so I have to account for those and any rocks. Help!:yikesu:

 

[DoDad]

I don't think it matters how deep it is. Rocks will be fine in the stream but not in the pond.

 

[sissy]

I just saw a great pic that you may want to consider doing since you have a great stream in the middle of the guys stream he has rocks piled on top of each other and he has water was coming out the top from another hose and it is like a mini waterfall in the middle of the stream .It is on the Aquascape watergarden forum sight .He has it listed as splashofnature.com.The pic is neat and a great idea

 

[addy1]

At least 10 inches, by the time you have the liner etc installed that 10 inches disappears. My first stream had to pull the liner and dig deeper, it was too shallow when finally done. That one started at around 6 inches.

 

[jwright]

Thanks for the help! I'll definitely take a look at that pic... BTW: no rocks in pond. But do plan to have them in stream for waterfall effect and attempting to make it look like streams in our area. Will shoot for a 10" depth.

 

[sissy]

Addy1 's pond is on a hill so she should really know how the water can go over the sides and I guess with heavy rains it could really move

 

[addy1]

Thanks for the help! I'll definitely take a look at that pic... BTW: no rocks in pond. But do plan to have them in stream for waterfall effect and attempting to make it look like streams in our area. Will shoot for a 10" depth.

I have rocks in my stream. I made it around 15 inches wide, 10 plus inches deep. By the time I added the padding, the liner, the rocks the width is now around 10, the depth around 6. I have rocks in the stream and on the side of the stream. Put the small pebble type river rocks on the bottom mixed with some pea gravel, larger rocks to the sides, but every now and then a large rock in the stream bottom. You want a good mixture of small rocks with your large ones, that looks more natural. Make sure you don't make a dam, laughing, the leaves and dirt will nicely redirect your water out of your stream. Do test runs with a garden hose as you work on it.

I also put rocks out side of the stream in random areas extending out 2-4 feet from the stream, trying to make it look like a rocky hill the water made a path through. Still need more rocks lol.

Because of our slope the uphill side of the stream has a lot of rocks in the banks, to cover the dirt. the downhill side has fewer.

If you are working on a slope make sure you have a small level (like a bullet level) to keep the bottom of your stream level as you work on it. With our slope it kept fooling me and I would have to redig again! Our stream does switch backs down our slope, to control the flow to have meandering stream type flow, with waterfall areas as the level dropped.

If you are making little waterfalls, water drops, in your stream have a small collecting area of water before it drops down. 4-5 inches deeper than the stream.

And of course have fun doing it!

 

[sissy]

Addy how does yours do during the heavy rains and your plants ,do they get disturbed .I live on a hill and I can see over the years erosion from the rain .A little of my dirt goes away every time it rains .I have even had to put some dirt back in spots where it washes away from my trees .

 

[DoDad]

I have a stream that is about 10' long and the water depth is less than 1" and the drop from the top to bottom is about 6". I have a few rocks in it for effect. I've never seen a stream on a pond that was ten inches other than one that mother nature made.

 

[addy1]

The hill does fine, with the twists and turns of the stream, mulching, rocks, plants it is real stable. I do not see dirt being washed into the stream, which is where it would go.
I still have a few places that need to be finished.

 

[sissy]

When you get heavy rains doesn't it disturb everything the steeper the waterfall is ,as the water coming down will have more force .I have a natural stream across the road from me and it has gotten wider and wider over the years and it is a straight flat stream but I guess some where far away it comes down a hill .During heavy rains I can here the water rushing down the stream

 

[sissy]

I had a small tree get uprooted by rains in my front yard had to go rescue it and replant it .I am amazed by the pics of your stream Addy as it looks so stable and with that drop you have ,amazed .The rock you have at the bottom I would think would move but yours looks perfect

 

[DoDad]

Who is this question for?

When you get heavy rains doesn't it disturb everything the steeper the waterfall is ,as the water coming down will have more force .I have a natural stream across the road from me and it has gotten wider and wider over the years and it is a straight flat stream but I guess some where far away it comes down a hill .During heavy rains I can here the water rushing down the stream

 

[sissy]

sorry addy went off was looking at her pics and her stable hill when she comes on she will see it I guess.I just have a hill for the front yard and everything washes down it and do not understand how her stream and hill is so stable .I loose grass and dirt all the time and grass seed to

 

[DoDad]

I dug the dirt out about 2" deeper than I wanted for the stream, laid a piece of liner down that was big enough to have 6" left over on each side put some chicken wire over that. I then poured 2" of concrete over all and shaped the stream. Then you could mortar rocks on the 6" part. this would keep runoff out of your stream.