Guarding the Inlet
Debris may be sucked into the inlet or aquatic wildlife might enter. A properly placed inlet pipe with an inlet screen can help ensure trouble-free operation. The goal is to stop debris that will clog the pipe or level control box.
The screen must be strategically sized. The screen will clog easily if the inlet holes are too small. The screen will pass large debris to clog the pipe or structure if the inlet holes are too large. Some debris is expected to collect on the inlet screen if it is working. It is important that the inlet screen openings have a surface area significantly greater than the cross-sectional area of the pipe to ensure proper flow.
A swirl or vortex will form around the inlet during periods of high flow rates. The vortex is like a miniature tornado with a hollow center that allows air to be sucked into the pipe. The air entrained reduces the water flow. A properly designed inlet screen can minimize the vortex.
A float or other high-visibility marker is very useful to locate the inlet. The water is often murky and the inlet becomes very hard to see once sediment and plant life surrounds it. The inlet will seemingly disappear in a few weeks after installation.
Muskrats and Beavers – Some people like them, some people don’t…..
Muskrats and beavers create some beautiful wetland scenes. They can also be a big problem by working tirelessly to plug up your pond drains.
Place your drain where you can access it easily and with equipment if you have it. Beavers and muskrats are attracted to the sound of flowing water. They stuff sticks, plants, rocks and mud into any opening until the sound stops. They work with the flow of water to move materials. Lessening the flow and sound will help minimize beaver activity. Do not assume there are no beavers just because there is no current activity. Beavers become hyperactive in the fall and winter as they build and protect their food supplies. They are lazy in the late spring and early summer when food is abundant. Young beavers migrate every spring and will seek out new ponds.
Inline structures are more resistant to beavers. However, just extending a short piece of perforated pipe into the pond will not work. Beavers will clog each hole individually then bury the whole pipe if they cannot access the perforations. Place non-perforated inlet pipes well into the pond at or below the bottom of the structure. Place the pipe as deep as practical and extend it as far away from the dam as possible. Placing it too close to the dam will encourage beavers to build a coffer dam around the entire structure. Use an inlet screen to prevent beavers from stuffing the end of the pipe. If they find the open pipe end, they will jam long sticks into the pipe then pack the open spaces with twigs, plants and mud. The pipe will be very difficult to unplug. A vortex from flowing water will attract beavers like a magnet. Use a screen that minimizes the vortex and has large enough openings to to minimize noise from flowing water.
We offer screens for inlet pipe.
We offer beaver-resistant debris guards for single-side structures.
Our debris guards keep sticks from entering the box. Beavers have a difficult time defeating the guard and it prevents them from stuffing sticks and mud directly into the box behind the flashboards.