Managing Ditches making the most of land drainage systems
Maintaining good field drainage is essential in order to provide good conditions for crop growth, to avoid poaching by stock and allow timely cultivations.
As part of their role in taking away field drainage water, ditches can be managed to reduce the transport and impact of sediment, nutrients and chemicals in runoff from land.
Clearing only part of ditches each year encourages settling out of the sediments and the uptake of nutrients by stream vegetation such as reeds and rushes.
Fencing to control access by stock will reduce risk of waterborne infection, whilst rotational clearance of vegetation sustains habitats for a wide range of wildlife including pest predators.
Keeping a routine eye on ditches can also provide useful hints as to the cause of problems such as stock injury, land runoff or erosion, can help allow timely control of the associated costs, and give early warning of pollution risks developing on the farm.

1.1.1 Existing ditches
Ditches are essential drainage routes linking runoff from land and field drain systems which, in turn, reduce waterlogging of soils and allow them to warm up rapidly in spring.
Many farmers also recognise that ditches serve as useful indicators of excessive and damaging erosion and runoff, problems which have hidden costs if warning signs are not followed up.
They have found that it is easy to see problems developing by keeping a look out for:
● Significant or frequent brown water runoff into the ditches
● Sewage fungus (resulting from runoff from manures or other organic matter) in the ditches
● Banks of ditches poached or damaged by livestock
● Absence of reeds, rushes or other vegetation in ditches These signs mean there is a much greater chance of:
● Stock lameness, injury or waterborne infection
● Losses of valuable topsoil and nutrients from runoff and erosion of land
● Pollution of watercourses
● Damage to ditch plants and animals

1.1.2. Land runoff
Uncontrolled land runoff can significantly damage soils and crops, and can cause water pollution. Runoff from fields, clean yards and tracks can also easily mix with dirty water from stock yards, adding to the costs of manure storage and spreading.
In other cases, runoff across productive but vulnerable land may cause serious erosion unless the overland water is diverted or slowed down before it builds into a damaging flow.
Many farmers have found that it is possible to see problems developing, during or just after rainfall, by keeping a look out for:
● Clean runoff from land, yards, roads and tracks mixing with ‘dirty water’
● Runoff from land channelling across vulnerable soils These signs mean there are much greater risks of:
● Increased costs from dirty water storage and disposal
● Erosion of vulnerable land and tracks
● Pollution of watercourses

1.1.3 Rivers and other wetlands

On the other hand, the farm’s proximity to rivers implies a risk of flooding. Farms suffer significant losses from floods: destroyed crops, drowned animals, damaged agricultural machinery and others. In most cases, the adaptation of the farm to the natural flow of the rivers, in the long run, gives better results than the attempts to control and change the river for utilization of the areas around it. With the help of specialists, farmers can create 3 zones around the river. The first zone is often flooded by the river and there should be no agricultural activity in it. The second zone is flooded only at very high waters – here the use of land for grazing or perennials is allowed. The third zone is never flooded – here the land can be used for any activities.

Rivers in their natural course and other wetlands are extremely important for maintaining the balance in nature. They are a source of resources (fish, etc.), and are habitats for rare and endangered animals. Apart from being a source of water for irrigation, the level of groundwater also depends on them.
Non-drained and semi-natural wetlands are becoming less common and in most cases have a high conservation value.

Managing Bank Erosion controlling stock access adds value
Farmers who have taken a look at the problems of bank erosion caused by water and stock have found that simple remedial measures bring a wide range of benefits which usually more than repay the time and cost involved.
By fencing watercourses where necessary, farmers have been able to protect stock health, reduce loss of land, reduce the risks of pollution and improve habitats of birds, small mammals and fish.
Fences also reduce the time spent in rounding up stock, and promote good relationships with neighbours.
A river corridor which is fenced off is a more valuable asset which will improve potential for conservation and recreation enterprises such as farm walks and fishing with potential to improve the income and diversity of the farm.

1.1.4. Livestock access
Intensive grazing and trampling close to the edge of ditches, wetlands and watercourses increases the rate and extent of bank erosion. This can leave the banks vulnerable to erosion by water, especially during large floods, resulting in loss of good agricultural land.
Trampling and direct access to watercourses causes local pollution from sediment and dung which affects water supplies and wildlife habitats.
It is easy to see if problems are developing by keeping a look out for:
● Trampled field margins and banks, especially where access is shaded by trees
● Stock standing in watercourses
● Banks bare of vegetation, and loss of land
These signs mean there is a much increased chance of:
● Increased stock lameness, injury or loss
● Waterborne infections such as Leptospirosis and Cryptosporidium
● Lower growth rates and production
● Water pollution
● Loss of wildlife habitats

1.1.5. Managing bankside vegetation

Bankside vegetation helps to bind and protect banks which would otherwise be very vulnerable to erosion. Over- grazing and trampling can begin the process of serious erosion with loss of land and stream widening which can be very difficult and costly to control.
It is easy to see if problems are developing by keeping a look out for:
● Banks of watercourses bare of vegetation
● Banksides overgrazed
● Banks undercutting and slumping into watercourses

1.1.6. Stock watering
It can be cost-effective to make specific arrangements for watering animals by provision of separate supplies, drinking places at streams or by other methods, e.g. stock-operated drinkers such as pasture pumps. There is evidence to show that this can increase production rates and health of stock (sheep and cattle), and protect natural water supplies and wildlife.