Cow track drainage

Adequate drainage is critical to prolonging the life of your cow track. Here we look at how to ensure your track deals effectively with surface run-off.

To prevent your cow track surface from deteriorating, it is critical to ensure it’s adequately drained, which stops pools from forming.

The position, camber and drainage of your track is essential for reducing run-off and for stopping your tracks from sending that run-off into a watercourse.

When planning drainage for your new track, remember:

• For tracks less than 4 m wide, you’ll need a crossfall of 150 mm. For wider tracks, you’ll need a camber between 3–6%
• Keep the camber convex to shed water along the whole track rather than in one or two areas
• If necessary, construct cross drains to carry run-off into existing drains on the edge of the track. Ensure this run-off is diverted off the track and not into watercourses
• Clean cross drains regularly to ensure they continue to divert water off the track
• Don’t allow water to run along the tracks nor remain on the surface − standing puddles tend to erode and, in time, destroy the surface of the track
• Verges along tracks will build up over time. Remove these each year to ensure the free movement of water off the track
• To prolong the life of the track, consider clearing overhanging greenery and ditches, which minimises weather damage and improves sun and wind exposure, allowing the track to dry more quickly