Woven wire perimeter fence across waterway?

[DLMKA]

I've got a waterway that drains maybe 150 acres of row crop ground. Only water there with a decent rainfall or frozen/saturated ground. I have woven wire around the entire perimeter EXCEPT through the waterway. were there is 5 strands of barbed wire. I suspect that the woven wire caught enough debris from the field that it'd start ponding behind the fence on my place. Does this seem like a plausible reason for a small section of barb wire in an otherwise woven wire fence?

Reason I ask is I have a friend grazing 4 cows at my place and the young angus steer has started challenging fence and she wants to put woven wire across the waterway. I'd rather string an extra hot wire across it.

[secuono]

Yup. Even a tiny little baby creek (long before it erodes enough to be a real creek) can clog up fast and cause a gross muck pond.

[jwal10]

I run a cable across the bottom of wood posts on each side and build a heavy wood panel attached to the cable so when the water rises the bottom of panel kicks downstream. Water goes down, panel is in place....James

[DLMKA]

When it rains the water is 20-30' across the fence. There is 4 posts with barb wire. I'm thinking I'll just leave barb wire and if the cows need a better visual indicator of the border I'll run some thick poly wire instead of galvanized wire.

[littlebitfarm]

I have years of experience with 3 watergaps where the creek easily rises 8' (yes feet!). Then whole trees coming swimming downstream. It has been a challenge to say the least.

The best solution here has been Ibeams buried in concrete on either side of the high water line with a cable strung between them, hopefully above the high water mark. The quickest and easiest has been to hang hog panels from the cable. Hang them with baling wire, so they go before the big cable goes.

I have also hung old field fence from the cable. Once again with baling wire so the cable doesn't have to be replaced. In your case I wouldn't be too worried about hanging field fence from the top piece of barbed wire, just hang it on the side so the water current swings it away from the fence. I would also hang it off the ground by several inches, less area for the water to get to.

[rambler]

Yes. Woven will pull out.

Even barbed will catch a lot of debris.

I would use smooth wire, hi tensile or just smooth.

With an electric wire to back it up.

Perhaps 150 acres doesn't get a lot of flow, but if you get a crossing where the water moves fast, you want one side of the smooth wires anchored good, and the other side kinda weak. With strong posts on each side, but weaker in the middle. The water flow will win, no point trying to build a fort - build it so all the parts stay there and easy to fix again.

My uncle had water crossings in his pasture he was good at it. Two wires up high across the ditch, strong posts on each side. Then he ran a fairly weak fence theough the low, easy to fix up when debris washed through.

Neighbor bought the land, when the fence washed out he came and put in 4 telephone poles, 2x8 lumber, strong strong wires. Coulda held elephants back in that area!

Next rain storm, pulled all the wires and busted them, broke the 2x limber and floated away, the poles got pushed over with the force on the. Were leaning on different directions.

What a waste of effort, you don't win against Mother Nature, you work with her.

Paul

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by littlebitfarm

I have years of experience with 3 watergaps where the creek easily rises 8' (yes feet!). Then whole trees coming swimming downstream. It has been a challenge to say the least.

The best solution here has been Ibeams buried in concrete on either side of the high water line with a cable strung between them, hopefully above the high water mark. The quickest and easiest has been to hang hog panels from the cable. Hang them with baling wire, so they go before the big cable goes.

I have also hung old field fence from the cable. Once again with baling wire so the cable doesn't have to be replaced. In your case I wouldn't be too worried about hanging field fence from the top piece of barbed wire, just hang it on the side so the water current swings it away from the fence. I would also hang it off the ground by several inches, less area for the water to get to.

I agree on Hog Panels or even, Barn Metal Panels where they will swing and let debris through. Anything solid will pull out.

big rockpile