Backyard Troubles - What to do?

[SVTF]

So last year when we bought the house we noticed a sink in the yard towards the tree line. Well as the winter ended and the thaw started the sink got a little bit bigger and well created a little pool.

Well this summer when I had the front lawn re done I asked the guys what they thought I should do to correct the sink hole. They said just get some commercial grade topsoil fill in the sink and grass seed.

Me and the neighbor were going to look at doing this next spring, we wanted to see if the hole was going sink anymore.

Fast forward ... The sink is the same size but we have had rain for the last almost 10 hours straight. And this is what the backyard looks like, this is right down the property line:


From the neighbors yard look to the street.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/FireTent/DSCF3289.jpg

From my yard looking to the neighbors.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/FireTent/DSCF3287.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/FireTent/DSCF3288.jpg

Whats happening is some where in the lot behind the tree line (not developed) the water is running out the woods along the tree line under the green chair at the corner of the neighbors shed into the sink. That same process would have started the sink I assume as well.

Not sure who owns the land behind us, but would they be responsible to come and fix this? Us putting some dirt down to fill in the sink is only going to mask the problem.

[Quads]

Well, depending on it if it continues to sink, the most / simple solution for the time being would be to fill it with dirt / rock. It's a low spot in the yard, so water is going to fill that area. If you fill it, there is no longer a low spot for the water to collect.

[guitfiddler]

Well, depending on it if it continues to sink, the most / simple solution for the time being would be to fill it with dirt / rock. It's a low spot in the yard, so water is going to fill that area. If you fill it, there is no longer a low spot for the water to collect.

That would ne my suggestion as well, if it doesn't work you may consider adding in some drain lines.

[Irish]

Whats happening is some where in the lot behind the tree line (not developed) the water is running out the woods along the tree line under the green chair at the corner of the neighbors shed into the sink.

I would be cautious about simply filling in the area with dirt and seeding, especially since the water is draining towards your property. How is the grade around the rest of the property and around the house? If you fill that sinkhole in, you have to have a good idea of where the water is going to go. If your property is really flat or not properly graded around your home, the water that was in that sinkhole may come to rest around your house (really bad if you have a basement).

If you can envision or control where that water is going to go (not towards your home, or you're neighbors home), then filling it in should be OK.

[Rewind]

I would try to do some drainage first and then fill the sink. You correct the problem of the water collecting during heavy rains and you get your level area. I hate to say it, but I think this might be you and your neighbor's problem. It's not the undeveloped lot owner's fault that rain water is running off of his property into yours.

[IgotDANUTZ]

Drop 4 tons of dirt in there, drainlines and a retaining wall. DONE!!

[SVTF]

Drop 4 tons of dirt in there, drainlines and a retaining wall. DONE!!


That is the part I don't get.

Where would the drain lines go?

I don't even know the source of where the water is coming from, somewhere up in the woods.

[Rewind]

You should be able to run the drain lines to the street. Yes, this involves running through other neighbors' yards, but you should be able to do that through an easment (assuming you have one). Or talk to your neighbors and see if they can also see a benefit of having extra drainage in their back yards.