I enduring freezing temperatures last night because I had an early morning meeting with the Soil and Water Conservation officer this morning. I had a few questions for Rick and wanted him on site in case specifics needed to be addressed.
I have 40 acres and I want ponds. Multiple ponds with various functions, scattered here and there where it suits my fancy. He gave me the go-ahead to do whatever I want with one provision... I have to get the surveyors office to locate the drainage tiles that run through my place so I can avoid them by at least 100 feet. If a pond wall is closer than that, he says the tile could deplete my water level. He also said that the ponds will fluctuate in depth along with the height of the drainage ditch. I'm even allowed to do what I want with this wetland area that is almost the lowest spot, and right next to the area where I want the big fishing, swimming and rowboating pond to be. This is south, about 200 feet east of the ditch. I'm in the middle (standing on dry ground) looking east.
I had a visit from the REAL owners of my place last week. A flock of about 15 turkeys spent a leisurely half hour crossing the field south of the outhouse, before crossing the ditch. The wetlands area can be seen on the left, east side of the photo.
I took some photos at the future house site. This one is looking up at the backhoe on top of the hill to the NW
and this is the house site, though standing on the roof, so to speak. The house will start about 20 feet below where my feet were when I took the photo. The front (south) wall will be about the same location as the downed treetop at the edge of the contour. The two level dwelling will approximate the hillside. Flat ground is about 35 feet lower.