Drainage

Yep, we will discuss draining water from unwanted places. Notably, flooded streets and public areas as one such place, and country landscapes as another. The latter has much to do with plugged culverts usually running under roadways, as well as beaver dams which muck up drainage requirements for open lands. Beaver dams. Creative and effective engineering marvels accomplished by small, furry rodent-like creatures living in the wild.

Such videos are readily available on YouTube. Watching passersby crouch down by a curb of a flooded street, they are reaching blindly below the water’s surface to find drainage grilles and openings, sweeping away masses of leaves and clutter that plug the drain so water can once again find escape. This is how streets, intersections and parking lots are cleared of standing water during storms.

These heroes struggle to create the desired whirlpool that means drainage is happening. The eddy means an escapeway has been found and the water flows eagerly out of the public’s way. Soon the street is not flooded, soon pools of water surrounding parked cars disappear.

Beaver dams are more fun to watch. Bit by bit a naturalist removes twigs and tree limbs to loosen the underpinnings of the dam. Soil is loosened and removed as well. Soon leaks appear and the running water erodes the dam in many places. Eventually, the heap that is the dam, begins to move imperceptibly. Then more noticeably. Finally, the dam heaves and collapses, allowing massive water release. The pond behind the dam soon lowers and the landscape is once again able to receive and manage normal rain fall without flooding nearby fields and stands of woods. Area drainage canals work as planned and keep water levels in appropriate balance with nature. Imagine the resourcefulness of beavers doing this work. It is effective and done over and over again. Soon they will rebuild the dams recently torn down, but it will take time to do.

These videos provide interesting viewing. They awaken our appreciation of human adaptability and reaction to adverse conditions. We are also reacquainted with natural resources of country landscapes and open fields. Beaver life becomes more tantalizing as well!

Like lawn mowing videos, water drainage videos are a growing pastime on YouTube. Just Google YouTube Drainage videos. You’ll find much to witness.

Soon we will take a peek at videos of power washing sidewalks, driveways and home exteriors. What fun!

May 28, 2025

 

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