Yard Drainage Got You Down

The recent bout of wet weather has many folks struggling with the “Squishy Yard” nightmare. What may have been just a small damp area for years has now turned into a small pond, or worse yet has migrated into your basement or crawl space. We are in the midst of the wettest time period New Jersey has seen since we started keeping track of the weather (ca: 1850). And there's no sign of relief anytime soon..

Stories abound of home owners trying to fix their issues with crazy pipe and drain contraptions, to landscape solutions that just don’t work. This is just not something your landscaper is equipped to handle as our environment is changing in ways we never imagined.

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The Science of the “Squishy Yard”

Your “Squishy Yard” is a hydrology / soil science matter that is best addressed by a Biologist. Today’s Building / Land Science is advancing too fast for Building Codes and Environmental Regulations to keep up with. In fact, 2018 has been reported to be the wettest year in NJ history, pushing borderline soils beyond their water holding capacity and now flooding families out of their homes. There’s no Building Code that adequately addresses this.

New Jersey - The Wetlands State

NJ is basically a “Swamp” and it was normal to relocate streams and fill wetlands to create developable land. Farmers liked to plant in wetlands due to natural irrigation that today might not be the best place to build a house on. With the revisions to the Clean Water Act in 1977, Wetlands became protected and this land development practice ended.

But what about those homes built on an old wetland? What about older homes that are now being re-built with bigger basements, in neighborhoods that historically were prone to water intrusion due to wetlands? Better call GreenWorks first as this stuff doesn’t go away on its own.

What Makes GreenWorks Different

Everything. We are Building Biologists and deal with moisture all the time. We look at your unique water situation by listening to your accounting of what’s been going on, improvements that have been made, reviewing the information you provide us (see attached list) and reviewing publicly available environmental information. Many times we can do this at no charge and give you an idea of how to proceed. Fee schedule is attached if we can’t.

How to Get Started

Contact our office and gather the requested information (see attached) if you want our help. Be sure to look over our standard recommendations to see if that helps. If a fee is needed for us to move forward we will send you a simple proposal that needs to be executed and returned. Afterwards a time to visit your site will be set up where you will learn more about your environment than you thought possible.

Property Drainage Assistance

Client Provided Information (for GWE to render an opinion):

Mandatory

Property Survey
Pictures / Videos - outside area in question and of basement / crawl space.
Short history of issues, timeline (no more than 300 words) starting with date home built.

Note: If you can provide all the above information and we find it helpful we will research public data and provide a written recommendation at no charge.

Helpful

House Plans / Architecturals and/or Pool / Grading Plans
Soil Borings / Foundation Certification (from Engineer / Municipal Inspection)
Septic Design Plan
Wetlands Map & Permit
Other Engineering Plans

Site Inspection Fees If the Above Information is Incomplete / Not Available:

GWE to visit the site ($395 for E. Monmouth-N. Ocean Co (30miles)) / $795 1hr / Quote
Other Fees: Soil Boring $395 / boring / 2 min

Typical Water Management Recommendations with Budget (Permits not Included):

Gutter Corrections / Leader Extensions (You or neighbors) ($1,000 - 2,000K)
Window Well Corrections ($500 - $1,500)
Yard Re-Grading / Berms (3,500 - 8,000)
Wet Well (3,500 - $5,500)
E-Z Flow Pipe Discharge ($150 per linear foot / $15-$25k)
Recharge Strategies: Dry well / Cistern / Flow Well / Storm Ceptor - Quote
Foundation Re-Waterproofing - Quote
Patio Re-Leveling - Quote

Areas Regulated by Local (Municipality) or State Agencies (NJDEP):

Drainage Easements
Conservation Easements
Wetlands and their buffer (transition) areas (Mapped or Not Mapped)
Drainage Swales
Streams (Mapped, flowing or just a dry ditch)

Note: GWE does not recommend disturbing these areas. They are regulated and require a permit for any type of disturbance no matter how old the home is or how long you have owned it. Disturbance may be subject to fines and mandatory restoration. A nod or verbal “ok” from your local construction office is not a permit. And just because your neighbor did it, doesn’t mean you can do it as well.