flood lessons

[tncattle]

Well, my 28 acre pasture I lease is mostly bottom land along the Harpeth river. Here are a few things I've learned"

-Rivers can and will flood exactly where you think they can't
-One strand of hotwire is sufficient next to the river unless you want to spend more $ and watch it get destroyed-
-Cows are smarter than most give credit and don't seem to panic at rising water
-People that built homes 100 yrs. ago were smarter than developers are today with all their high tech crap
-one strand of hotwire catches a whole lot less river debris than 4 strands of barbed wire
-railroad tracks, railroad bridges, roads and any kind bridge are no match for raging water
-floods deposit a nice layer of topsoil, it's free and quick
-cows are curious to flood debris that is caught in fences and trees

Never underestimate the power of water!!!!

 

[Kingfisher]

Here is my favorite flood windfall. I know some folks down in Hondo that have a place where the Hondo River ( Its more like a nice big creek) makes a S bend around there place and goes under the highway. We had a pretty bad flood ( I dont remember off hand the year but @10-12 back) that deposited a rich supply of really nice round rocks and gravel at their door. Enough to buy a dump truck
and maybe even a loader with. About the time they made a dent in it .........rained hard again and balla bing! Cha ching. I haven't been there in a while and don't know whatever came of all of the rocks. I thought it was a pretty nifty windfall.

 

[alftn]

My father always looked for hill ground, ( bottom grounds floods, hill ground dont), I learned a little from him, keep my feet dry a few times...

I have seen more water here on Sat. and sun. than ever, nothing ever like it....I watched people drive thur it, play in it, and it is amazing that more people did not die....

After the 07 drought, I said i would never complain about rain, man after this week end I might change my mine...

 

[plumber_greg]

Reading you guys posts reminds me of '93 here. Our water stayed up for a month, and when it went down, not only were the water gaps tore out, but the need for them had moved. Some were filled in and the ditch was fifty feet away from where it used to be. I do agree the power of water is really amazing. The conservation dept. had some land where the river moved 3/4 mile north, off their property! Just be sure to take the time to look around and take pics, cuz' you hopefully won't ever get another chance. I really wish I had done more of that, my grandkids would have enjoyed pics after I'm gone. gs

 

[dun]

Reading you guys posts reminds me of '93 here. Our water stayed up for a month, and when it went down, not only were the water gaps tore out, but the need for them had moved. Some were filled in and the ditch was fifty feet away from where it used to be. I do agree the power of water is really amazing. The conservation dept. had some land where the river moved 3/4 mile north, off their property! Just be sure to take the time to look around and take pics, cuz' you hopefully won't ever get another chance. I really wish I had done more of that, my grandkids would have enjoyed pics after I'm gone. gs

Down here we had it like that year before last. When the rivers crest 35 feet above flood stage you KNOW you have serious water. That's why I like high ground. We were an island for almost a month with the only access taking us away from town.

 

[alacattleman]

Well, my 28 acre pasture I lease is mostly bottom land along the Harpeth river. Here are a few things I've learned"

-Rivers can and will flood exactly where you think they can't
-One strand of hotwire is sufficient next to the river unless you want to spend more $ and watch it get destroyed-
-Cows are smarter than most give credit and don't seem to panic at rising water
-People that built homes 100 yrs. ago were smarter than developers are today with all their high tech crap
-one strand of hotwire catches a whole lot less river debris than 4 strands of barbed wire
-railroad tracks, railroad bridges, roads and any kind bridge are no match for raging water
-floods deposit a nice layer of topsoil, it's free and quick
-cows are curious to flood debris that is caught in fences and trees

Never underestimate the power of water!!!!

yep but somebody up stream lost a layer,natures way of patchin' herself

 

[MO_cows]

We had front row seats for the floods of 1993, hope I never see it that bad again. We live down in the Missouri river bottoms, maybe 4 miles from the river itself. Fortunately, our place was homesteaded BEFORE people counted on the levies for protection and is on somewhat higher ground. Just high enough. The '93 floodwaters were visible from our place but would have had to rise another 20 feet or so to get us. We had no electricity or phone for about 10 days, and couldn't find a passable road to get out many days. There were Natl Guard checkpoints, I guess to keep out sightseers and looters. One night we came home after midnight and had to go see the colonel and get a pass to get down our road. :roll:

And yes, it's weird how the water will scour out all the soil in one place and deposit it in another.