CONTENTS

Introduction
Basic design principle
Guidelines for constructing
Types of check dams
Importance of check dams
Advantages
Disadvantages

Check Dams

Introduction
A check dam (also calledgully plug) is a small, temporary or
permanent dam constructed across a drainage ditch, swale, or
channel to lower the speed of concentrated flows for a certain
design range of storm events. A check dam can be built from
wood logs, stone, pea gravel-filled sandbags or bricks and
cement. Reduced runof speed reduces erosion and gully
erosion in the channel and allows sediments and other
pollutants to settle out. Check dams are inexpensive and easy
to install. They may be permanent if designed properly and can
be used where it is not possible to otherwise divert flow and
stabilise the channel. Furthermore, they allow groundwater
recharge . While gully plugs are able to retain soil moisture, to
harvest runof water, sand
dams (which
are
similar
in
appearance) might be the better solution.
Basic Design Principles
The size and shape of a drainage area, as well as the length
and gradient of its slopes, have an efect on the run-of rate
and amount of surface water. Therefore, all topographic
characteristics should be studied in detail before gully-plugging
work begins. There are several designs for how check dams
should be constructed. The kind of gully plug that should be
constructed depends on the local situation (what kind of
material is available, slope gradient, is it a permanent solution,
what tasks are intended). In gully control, temporary structural
measures such as woven-wire, brushwood, logs, loose stone
and boulder check dams are used to facilitate the growth of
permanent vegetative cover. Check dams are constructed
across the gully bed to stop, as already described, channel and
lateral erosion. By reducing the original gradient of
the gully channel, check dams diminish the velocity of water
flow and the erosive power of run-of. Run-of during peak flow
is conveyed safely by check dams. Temporary check dams,
which have a life span of three to eight years, collect and hold
soil and moisture in the bottom of the gully. Tree seedlings, as
well as shrub and grass cuttings planted in gullies, can grow
without being washed away by flowing water. Thus, a
permanent vegetative cover can be established in a short
time .

Structure of check dam

General Construction Guidelines

The sides of the check dam must be higher than the

centre so that water is always directed over the centre of the
dam (this avoids the dam being outflanked by the flow).

The dam can be made of temporary or permanent

materials in natural gullies on the land surface. Materials
used are concrete, earth, vegetation, stone and brushwood.
Where earth is used, erosion or destruction of the structure
needs to be avoided to do this, a concrete spillway is often
constructed. As they use the existing drainage system, no
design of trench is needed (as with contour trenches).

Do not construct check dams in watercourses or

permanently flowing streams without specific design
(because of possible restrictions to fish passage).
Types of check dam
Brush fills
Brush fill is a continuous filling of small gullies with brush,
branches of trees, stems of bushy vegetation, etc. This method
is also called brush plug and is especially economical where
brush is plentiful.

Brush fill check dam

Earth plugs
Earth plugs, which are small structures, are constructed across
the gullies. Their main purpose is to hold water and let it
percolate into the ground (see also surface groundwater
recharge). In non-humid regions, small gullies which are not
deeper than 2 metres, with a gully bed gradient of less than 10
per cent, can be stabilised by a series of earth plugs. In humid
regions, earth plugs must be combined with small diversions.
Distribution of earth plugs depends on the gullychannel's
gradient.
Woven-wire check dams
Woven-wire check dams are small barriers which are usually
constructed to hold fine material in the gully. They are used in
gullies with moderate slopes (not more than 10 per cent) and
small drainage areas that do not have flood flows which carry
rocks and boulders.

Woven wire check dam

Brushwood check dams
Brushwood check dams made of posts and brush are placed
across the gully. The main objective of brushwood check dams
is to hold fine material carried by flowing water in the gully.
Small gully heads, no deeper than one metre, can also
bestabilised by brushwood check dams. Brushwood check dams
are temporary structures and should not be used to treat
ongoing problems such as concentrated run-of from roads or
cultivated fields. They can be employed in connection with land
use changes such as reforestation or improved range
management until vegetative and slope treatment measures
become efective.

Brush wood check dam

Log Check Dam

Log check dams made of logs and posts are placed across
the gully. They can also be built of planks, heavy boards, slabs,
poles or old railroad ties. The main objectives of log check
dams are to hold fine and coarse material carried by flowing
water in the gully, and to stabilise gully heads. They are used to
stabilise incipient, small and branch gullies generally not longer
than 100 metre and withcatchment areas of less than two
hectares. The maximum height of the dam is 1.5 metres from
the ground level. Both its downstream and upstream face
inclination is 25 per cent backwards. Its spillway form is
rectangular. In general, the length and depth of its spillway are
one to two metres and 0.5 to 0.6 metres.

Log check dam

Loose Stone Check Dams

Loose stone check dams made of relatively small rocks are
placed across the gully. The main objectives for these dams are
to control channel erosion along the gully bed and to stop
waterfall erosion by stabilising gully heads. Loose stone check
dams are used to stabilise the incipient and small gullies and
the branch gullies of a continuous gullyor gully network. The
length of the gully channel is not more than 100 metres and
the gully catchment area is two hectares or less. These dams
can be used in all regions.

loose stone dam

Operation and Maintenance

Check dams should be inspected regularly for sediment
accumulation after each significant rainfall. Sediment should be
removed when it reaches one-half of the original height or
before. Check to ensure that the flow is over the centre of the
dam and not either under or around the dam. Check that there
is no erosion at the outfall.
Applicability
This method allows farmers to protect themselves against soil
loss problems from runof. It slows down the runof velocity on
sloped land, helps to settle out sediments, and helps to retain
soil moisture (learn more about soil moisture conservation
here).
Importance of check dam:
Irrigation helps in all-around increase fertility of the immediate
area.
Animal Husbandry can also be facilitated
The silt collection can be used in farms all throughout the year
as a possible substitute for chemical fertilizers and can be a
better organic alternative to the same.
The check dam system help to measure the gully erosion due
to strong current of river channels.
Check dam also prevents silting and thus, helps in reducing the
augmented height of the lower levels.
Advantages

Water speed is slowed, which reduces erosion and

prevents unwanted gully formation during a flood
No trench design required, just uses existing gully
drainage pattern
Can assist recharge of shallow wells
Can reduce salinity in groundwater
Allows groundwater recharge and sediment to settle out
(reduces sediment transport)
Cost efective these dams can use locally available
materials

Disadvantages

They can silt up and will need maintenance

Levels of infiltration can be slow due to silt build-up

Unclear land tenure can result in ownership of the
structure
If designed incorrectly designed, may block fish passage
When only focussing on gully plug construction, the main
cause of gully development is missed.

Reference:
http://www.sswm.info/content/check-dams-gully-plugs
opcgis.deq.state.ms.us/Erosion.../V1_Chap4_4_Runof_Conveya
nce
https://info.water.gov.my/.../324/GuidelineCheckDamsComplete
Set.pdf