Erosion Control Planning Services in Fairhaven, MA

Erosion Control Planning 

 

Water in your basement after every heavy rain isn't normal. Neither is standing water in your yard that takes days to disappear or erosion washing soil down your slope every storm. These problems happen because properties were never graded properly or drainage was never planned.

 

Erosion and drainage planning figures out where water goes and how to get it there safely. We look at your property's slope, soil type, where water runs during storms, and where it needs discharging. Then we design drainage systems and erosion controls that actually work. Properties in Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion, New Bedford, and Dartmouth all deal with water problems from poor planning. Sandy coastal soil, clay that holds water, slopes that erode, and freeze-thaw cycles that wreck drainage systems.

 

Most drainage problems trace back to properties that were never graded right from the start. Builders rough-grade for drainage away from foundations but don't plan for the rest of the property. Water runs off in wrong directions, pools in low spots, or causes erosion on slopes. Sometimes it's fully finished properties that simply never had proper grading. Lawns and landscaping are in but water still doesn't drain correctly.

 

Erosion and drainage planning prevents basement flooding, eliminates standing water, stops erosion damage, and protects foundations before these problems cost thousands in repairs. Plan it right from the beginning or fix it properly when problems show up.

 

Erosion Planning

 

Erosion control planning stops soil from washing away during storms. We identify problem slopes, drainage patterns causing erosion, and soil types that erode easily. Then we design solutions that hold soil in place while water drains.

 

Properties on slopes in areas like West Island or near Fort Phoenix get hit with erosion during heavy rains. Water runs down slopes, carries soil away, and creates channels that worsen with each storm. Erosion control uses vegetation with deep roots for gentle slopes. Steeper slopes need erosion control fabric, riprap, or retaining walls that stop soil movement while managing water flow.

 

Sandy soil erodes differently than clay. Short steep slopes need different solutions than long gradual ones. Coastal properties deal with wind and salt exposure that affects what erosion controls survive long-term. Planning also accounts for what's downslope. Soil washing into storm drains causes town violations. Sediment running onto the neighbor's property creates liability.

 

Drainage System Design

 

Drainage system design plans where water goes and how it gets there. We design catch basins, drainage pipes, and discharge points that move water away from buildings and problem areas to safe locations.

 

A 1000 square foot roof dumps over 600 gallons of water during one inch of rain. Most properties direct roof water to the ground right next to the foundations. Over time, this saturates soil, seeps into basements, and causes foundation problems. Drainage systems intercept water before it causes problems.

 

Properties in neighborhoods like Sconticut Neck or near Cushman Park often have high water tables that complicate drainage. Systems need accounting for where water can actually discharge. Sometimes that means tying into town storm drains. Other times, it means creating on-site infiltration areas. We design drainage systems that handle peak flow during storms, not just average rain. Plans show pipe sizes, grades, basin locations, and discharge points that work when tested by actual weather.

 

Grading and Slope Planning

 

Grading and slope planning reshape properties so water flows in the right directions. We measure existing elevations, identify where water pools or runs incorrectly, and design new grades that fix drainage problems.

 

Properties need a minimum of 2 percent slope away from buildings. That's 2 inches of drop per 10 feet of distance. Less than that, and water doesn't drain. It sits against foundations, seeps into basements, or pools in low spots, killing grass.

 

New construction in Fairhaven and Mattapoisett regularly gets left with terrible grading. Builders grade enough to pass inspections, then leave. Yards slope wrong, water pools everywhere, and homeowners inherit drainage nightmares. Existing properties sometimes need regrading to fix water problems. Fully finished landscapes with lawns and beds, but water still floods basements or creates swamps in yards.

 

Grading plans also create usable flat areas on sloped properties. Retaining walls hold back soil, while grading creates terraced levels. Plans show wall locations, finished elevations, and drainage for each level.

 

Retaining Wall Drainage

 

Retaining wall drainage planning prevents wall failure from water pressure. When water saturates soil behind walls with nowhere to go, hydrostatic pressure builds up and pushes walls over. Most wall failures happen because drainage was never planned.

 

Proper retaining wall drainage includes weep holes every 4 to 6 feet along the base to let water escape before pressure builds. Behind the wall, proper backfill creates drainage zones where water flows to weep holes instead of building pressure. Taller walls over 4 feet need engineering and permits, which makes proper drainage planning mandatory.

 

French Drain Installation

 

French drain planning shows where perforated pipes go to collect and redirect groundwater. French drains work for properties with high water tables, wet areas that never dry out, or groundwater seeping into basements.

 

French drains are trenches filled with gravel and perforated pipe. Unlike surface drainage that handles runoff, French drains deal with water in soil. They lower water tables, dry out soggy areas, and intercept groundwater before it reaches foundations. Properties in low-lying areas or near wetlands often need French drains to stay usable.

 

Catch Basin and Pipe Systems

 

Catch basin and pipe system planning shows where surface water gets collected and how pipes carry it away. Catch basins are underground boxes with grates that collect water from driveways, patios, and low areas.

 

Driveways in Fairhaven and New Bedford often slope toward garages or houses. Catch basins at driveway low points collect this water before it reaches buildings. Patio drainage planning prevents water from pooling on hardscaping surfaces. Low spots in yards that stay soggy need catch basins to drain properly. Plans show basin locations based on where water naturally flows.

 

Swale Design

 

Swale design planning creates shallow drainage channels that move water across properties without pipes. Swales work well for large areas, gentle slopes, and situations where piped drainage costs too much.

 

Swales are grassed channels with gentle side slopes that carry water from one area to another. Water flows along the swale during storms then infiltrates into ground when flow stops. Coastal properties sometimes use swales because high water tables make pipe systems difficult. Plans account for soil types because sandy soil infiltrates fast while clay soil needs swales that move water further before soaking in.

 

Common Drainage and Erosion Problems We Fix

 

Basement flooding during storms happens because water isn't directed away from foundations. Grading slopes wrong, gutters discharge too close to house, or drainage systems don't exist. Water saturates soil around foundations and seeps through walls or floors. Erosion and drainage planning fixes this by intercepting water before it reaches foundations and routing it to safe discharge.

 

Standing water in yards that takes days to dry creates unusable soggy areas. Low spots collect runoff with nowhere to drain. Clay soil holds water instead of letting it soak in. Poor grading means water flows to wrong areas and sits. Planning fixes these with catch basins, regrading, or French drains that dry out problem areas. Properties throughout Fairhaven and Mattapoisett deal with clay soil that won't drain naturally. Without proper planning, these areas stay wet and useless for months.

 

Erosion washing away slopes happens when water runs down banks without controls. Each storm makes it worse. Channels form, soil disappears, roots get exposed. Eventually slopes fail or threaten structures. Planning stops this with proper drainage at top of slopes and erosion controls that hold soil while managing water. Properties on hills or near water get hit worst because there's nothing slowing water down or holding soil in place.

 

Driveways washing out after heavy rains lose gravel and develop channels. Water runs down driveways without anything to slow it or redirect it. Planning adds catch basins or drainage swales that collect water before it causes damage. Steep driveways especially need drainage planning or they wash out every few years and need constant regrading and gravel replacement.

 

Water running from neighbor's property creates problems you didn't cause but have to deal with. Their poor drainage becomes your flooding or erosion. Planning shows how to intercept water at property lines and redirect it safely without creating conflicts. Sometimes this means French drains along property lines. Other times it means grading changes that redirect flow before it reaches your buildings or landscaping.

 

Retaining walls failing from water pressure happen when walls were built without drainage planning. Water saturates soil behind walls, pressure builds, and walls lean or collapse. Fixing failed walls costs way more than planning proper drainage during original construction. Most wall failures we see could have been prevented with weep holes, gravel backfill, and drainage pipes that were never installed.

 

Getting Started with Erosion Control Planning

 

Properties throughout Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion, New Bedford, and Dartmouth need erosion and drainage planning that works with local conditions. Coastal soil, water tables, slopes, and weather all affect what solutions actually work long-term.

 

Call 508-763-8000 or email request@newenglandtreeandlandscape.com. We'll schedule site visit, look at your property's drainage and erosion problems, and create plans that fix issues correctly. Whether it's new construction that needs proper grading from the start or existing property with ongoing water problems, planning prevents expensive damage and failed solutions.

 

35 years in business. Local crew based at 232 Huttleston Avenue in Fairhaven. Family-owned. We're the caring professionals.