Every hard rain was moving more soil around this Ferguson mountain home. Matthieu and Ariana wanted the cycle to stop. Their goal was a permanent, low maintenance solution that would protect the house without leaving them with another problem to manage.

The goal was simple
Control the water before it reached the house, rebuild the damaged ground and create a finished system designed to last.

Before the work

Runoff from the upper logging road was crossing steep red clay slopes, cutting channels behind the house and carrying sediment into the lower drainage area. Previous grading had addressed individual spots, but the water still had a clear path downhill.

The plan

01 Control the water

We installed an upper diversion ditch to intercept surface water before it reached the steep bank. The driveway pitch and lower terrace were corrected so runoff would follow intentional drainage paths.

02 Rebuild the ground

Brush was cleared, abrupt cuts were tapered and failed material was removed. The slope and terrace were reshaped to reduce water speed and give the property a stable foundation.

03 Protect the finished work

Class B riprap, clean 3 inch stone and commercial geotextile were placed where concentrated flow needed immediate protection. Topsoil, clover, mountain seed and Aspen wood fiber matting protect the rebuilt soil while vegetation becomes established.

Built for low maintenance

This is not one ditch or one repaired bank. It is a connected system. The diversion reduces the volume of water. The grading reduces its speed. Stone manages concentrated flow. Matting and vegetation protect the soil.

Working together, those layers provide lasting protection with minimal upkeep for Matthieu and Ariana.

The finished result

• Runoff intercepted above the house
• Steep ground reshaped and stabilized
• Vulnerable banks protected with riprap and clean stone
• Driveway and terrace drainage corrected
• Disturbed soil prepared for lasting vegetation

In their words

“Thank you for your services. You and your crew did deliver exactly what you described, no overpromises and under delivering. You were always communicating, available and trustworthy. This is rare in general, and even more difficult in remote locations.”

Matthieu and Ariana gave Carolina Dozer permission to share their project photos and plan to send updated pictures once the clover is established.

Have a runoff problem of your own?

Carolina Dozer provides erosion repair, drainage correction and slope stabilization throughout Ferguson, Wilkes County and the surrounding High Country.