Berm and Pond Area The berm area was built from the dirt removed from the depression areas. The pictures show the fields before any work was done, just normal flat fields. The equipment to move all the dirt was just the bulldozer and the combined scoop and mover. The bulldozer scrapped out the depressions and then the earthmover call a "pan" picked up the dirt and moved it onto the berm area. All the work to move the dirt and build up the berm area was done in 2 days. One additional day was spent packing the sides of the berm with the dozer and doing final cleanup work. Rainfall and snow melt has the water levels up to what were expected. In fact to high in some places as water started flowing over the top of the berm in some low spots. Had to lower the water level in the pond 6 to 9 inches so top of berm would not wash out. Will have to move additional dirt to top of berm in spring to allow maximum water retention in the pond area.   B E F O R E Flags set by surveyors. Marks start and edge of berm area. Looking east from area approximately adjacent to area where the berm swings close to the road. Looking north across the fields where the berm was constructed, close to lowest spot in the field area. Looking south from area approximately adjacent to area where the berm swings close to the road. Looks over the lower areas in the fields.   Flags set by surveyors. Marks north east end of berm close to road.       D U R I N G   Bulldozer working in the background scrapping area where berm area will be built up. The main dirt mover has just been moved off of flatbed truck. The bulldozer scrapped about a foot of the top soil off. This is to insure that the dirt used to build up the berm will sort of bond to the dirt and not slide on top of the compacted field dirt. The red line approximates the contour of the berm. The main dirt mover called a "pan" scoops up the dirt. And then moves it to the new area 'berm area' and spreads the dirt where needed. A fairly efficient method of moving dirt. Bulldozer working on the depressions. 6 separate depressions where formed to remove dirt to build the berm. Al Stewart (on the left) USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, District Conservationist and George Beavan, MD Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Planner. Both provided excellent guidance and oversight of the project. Oops! The real reason the pond area and habitat was built. To keep the ducks out of the small pond next to the house! Bulldozer scraping out dirt to form one of the depression areas. This area is almost a perfect circle, was the first depression established. The heavily loaded pan got stuck in the soft earth. Bulldozer had to help push the earth mover out of the rut in which it tried to bury itself. As you can see all were always hard at work! Actually they were waiting for dozer to clear the area for water control valve. Bulldozer packing down the sides of the berm. Was a slow process but has paid off so far in making a solid berm.     A F T E R Area around flow control structure right after first heavy rainfall. Water started to flow over top of berm. Immediate remedy to prevent berm failure was raising of water level control boards. Resulted in water level dropping 6 to 9 inches and stopped flowing over top of berm. Spring project is to build up berm to prevent future problems and still maintain water level at maximum level. Shows water flow out of 12" outlet pipe after raising the flow control boards. Took about 4 to 6 hours for water level to drop 6 inches! Water in the area between the outlet pipe and flow to creek. Caused minor flooding as no real ditches established. Yet. (Another spring project.) Water flow where there is normally just a trickle flowing from fields into the creek which is about 15 to 20 feet into the wooded area. Dropping pond level 6 to 9 inches really released a lot of water. One of the depression areas. Looks more like a wildlife habitat now since the rainfall and snow melt. Pond area looking Southwest across the berm. Pond area looking Southwest from the top of the berm. Water control structure area viewed across the pond showing depressed area around the control structure which allowed water to flow over top of berm. Looking Northeast from top of berm. Shows pond, old tobacco barn in background and nice sky reflection on the water.

Contact Mary Ida Rolape via email or telephone 301-769-3179

Home    Nesting Boxes    Berm & Pond    Shallow Depressions    Grass Areas    Control Valve