Just Before Christmas

while making our rounds, we noticed the spring holding pond level had dropped.  A varmint had made his own path way.  The water was running under our over flow pipe instead of through it.

This job called for the Kubota King.  He did some digging in the levee and removed the culvert.

He dammed the exit to allow the water to fill to its maximum capacity.  We (I supervised) worked on moving rocks while the pond filled. 

These large rocks will turn most rain water away from the spring holding pond.

Time to break the dam

The water leaves swiftly flushing the holding pond.

The water follows the steam bed to the big spring pond.

The rocks under the ones to the right are ones my grandfather laid around an old oak barrel over the spring outlet.  Back then the water was carried by hand to the house.  The ones you see were added by Dad when the house was plumbed for water.  Now a submersible pump carries more than enough water to two houses with plenty left for the creek.  Although there are several bubbling springs within this area the main spring is inside the rock barrel.

After the pond flushed itself  Hubby did every thing in reverse.  Culvert installed at correct level to maintain the level we perfer.  Dirt placed and packed on culvert while keeping it level to drain.  Less than two hours the pond filled to the lip of the pipe and flows merrily on its way.

Once again crystal clear water at the correct level for the pump.  Gotta love tractors.  This used to be done by hand!  A spring that pumps hundreds of gallons a minute is simply a natural above ground well with sweet water from deep within Mother Earth.