Title: Surface Drainage, Field Ditch 607
Author: J. Rickman
Last saved by: Bill Kuenstler
Company: USDA

607 -

Natural Resources Conservation Service
Conservation Practice Standard
Surface Drainage, Field Ditch
(Ft.)
Code 607

Definition
A graded ditch for collecting excess water in a field.
Purpose
Collect or intercept:
•	excess surface water, such as sheet flow from natural and graded land surfaces or channel flow from furrows, and carry it to an outlet;  
•	excess subsurface water and carry it to an outlet.
Conditions where practice applies
Applicable sites are flat or nearly flat and:
1.	Have soils that are slowly permeable (low permeability) or that are shallow over barriers such as rock or clay, which hold or prevent ready percolation of water to a deep stratum.
2.	Have surface depressions or barriers that trap rainfall.
3.	Have insufficient land slope for ready movement of runoff across the surface.
4.	Receive excess runoff or seepage from uplands.
5.	Require the removal of excess irrigation water.
6.	Require control of the water table.
7.	Have adequate outlets available for disposal of drainage water by gravity flow or pumping.

criteria
General Criteria Applicable to All urposes
Drainage field ditches shall be planned as integral parts of a drainage system for the field served and shall collect and intercept water and carry it to an outlet with continuity and without ponding. Compliance with federal, State, and local laws and regulations is required.
Investigations.  An adequate investigation shall be made of all sites.
Location.  Ditches shall be established, insofar as topography and property boundaries permit, in straight or nearly straight courses.  Random alignment may be used to follow depressions and isolated wet areas of irregular or undulating topography.  Excessive cuts and the creation of small irregular fields shall be avoided.
On extensive areas of uniform topography, collection or interception ditches shall be installed as required for effective drainage.
Design.  The size, depth, side slopes, and cross section area shall:
1.  Be adequate to provide the required drainage for the site.
2.  Permit free entry of water from adjacent land surfaces without causing excessive erosion.
3.  Provide effective disposal or reuse of excess irrigation water (if applicable).
4.  Conduct flow without causing excessive erosion.
5.  Provide stable side slopes based on soil characteristics.
6.  Permit crossing by field equipment if feasible.
7.  Permit construction and maintenance with available equipment.
CONSIDERATIONS
When planning this practice, the following items should be considered where applicable:
•	Potential impacts on downstream flows or aquifers that would affect other water uses or users.
•	Potential water quality impacts for soluble pollutants, sediments and sediment-attached pollutants.
•	Potential for uncovering or redistributing toxic materials.
•	Impacts on cultural resources
•	Effects on wetlands or water-related wildlife habitats.
•	Effects of water lever control on soil water, downstream water temperature or salinity of soils.
•	The need for riparian buffers, filter strips and fencing.
•	Effects on water budget components, especially the relationships between runoff and infiltration.

Plans and specifications
Plans and specifications for constructing drainage field ditches shall be in keeping with this standard and shall describe the requirements for properly installing the practice to achieve its intended purpose.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
A site-specific operation and maintenance plan shall be provided to and reviewed with the landowner(s) before the practice is installed.  
The plan shall adequately guide the landowner(s) in the routine maintenance and operational needs of the ditch(es).  The plan shall also include guidance on periodic inspections and post-storm inspections to detect and minimize damage to the ditch(es).

NRCS, NHCP
March 2003

Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated if needed.  To obtain the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
NRCS, NHCP
March 2003