Single-Sided Flashboard Risers

Control water levels in ponds, lakes and wildlife habitats

Single-Sided flashboard water level controller structures have a pipe on one side.

Flashboards slide in guide tracks on the side facing the water.

Flashboards are added or removed to regulate the water level.

Flashboard risers are economical for controlling large water flows.

Our DrainBox Flashboard Risers are perfect for larger wildlife habitats and shallow ponds with significant water flow.  

Side view of a flashboard riser with pipe and support frame
Front view of a flashboard riser showing flash boards
Top of a flashboard riser in a newly created pond.

Wooden Flashboards

Flashboards are cut to fit the guide tracks from ordinary lumber. They will leak a little bit when first installed but will naturally swell and seal up with mud, algae and debris in a short time.   The small amount of leakage is not a problem when ample water flow is available.   If necessary, an immediate watertight  seal can be achieved by using the widest possible flashboards and placing sealing material between the flashboards.  

Key Features

  • Heavy-duty welded steel structures:  Resists twisting and bending. 

  • Designed For Plastic Pipe: Designed to work with double-wall corrugated high density polyethylene drain tiles from 8” to 15” in diameter.  

  • Standard Lumber Flashboards:  Designed to accept standard “2 by” dimensional lumber as flashboards (not supplied).  

  • Support Frames:  To prevent floating, slipping and leaning are standard on risers 48 inches and taller.  

  • Debris Guards:   We offer optional trash guards to keep floating debris and beavers out of the inlet box. 

  • Corrosion Resistant:   Powder coated for long-lasting corrosion resistance. 

  • Precision laser cut and formed parts:  Accurate fit up with accessories

  • Fabricated in the USA

Flashboard Brackets and Puller

We provide optional Flashboard Brackets and a T-Handle Puller to make flashboard extraction easier, and safer.

The brackets bolt to any 2-X lumber and are powder coated for durability.

The puller works with the debris guard in place

The T-handle has extensions that facilitate different lengths and the angle of the handle relative to the business end can be controlled.

Removing flashboards

Bracket for removing flashboards in a riser pond drain
Flashboard riser with brackets for easy removal
Module T-handle for removing flashboards from a pond drain

Flashboard risers have some inherent limitations that must be considered.

Please read these pages found under the resources tab:

Installation of your Flashboard Riser is Straightforward 

Our standard units are designed to be installed with simple tools.  

Attaching the pipe cleats requires a drill or impact driver with a 5/16 socket to drive the self-drilling screws.

Attaching the support frame and/or debris guard requires a 9/16- inch socket . 

No concrete or welding are required.

  • Prepare the area in front of the drain tile to receive the bottom section.    The soil should be packed firmly to minimize settling.  

  • Bolt the optional support frame and/or debris screen to the corresponding anchor points on the box using the hardware supplied  

  • Slip the skirt on the bottom section of the box into the inside of the plastic drain tile.   Check the fitment of the tile to the base and adjust as required. Do not force or deflect the drain tile to force the connection.

  • Ensure the box is upright and level in both directions.  If the optional support frame is used, adjust the length of the struts if required.

  • If desired, drive rebar earth anchors through the base to secure the unit.   

  • Install the pipe following the instructions.

  • Place the flashboards into the box

  • Backfill as desired ensuring that large rocks or clumps of earth do not damage the pipe, box or support frame.