Multiple homeowners in a Lee's Summit subdivision in the Lakewood area were dealing with severe surface water runoff flowing down the hillside behind their properties. Every rain sent water cascading through their backyards, causing erosion, creating perpetually soggy conditions, and pooling water directly against foundations.
Jackson County's clay soil made the problem worse — the dense clay couldn't absorb the runoff, so it all flowed downhill on the surface. Several homeowners had already noticed water in their basements and were worried about long-term foundation damage.
We designed and installed a large-scale rock drainage swale running the full length of the hillside to intercept and redirect stormwater away from the homes. The crew excavated the channel, lined it with landscape fabric, placed a perforated drain pipe at the base, and filled it with graded riprap and river rock.
The system captures runoff from the entire slope and channels it to a proper discharge point at the base. Left unchecked, this kind of sustained water pressure is exactly what leads to bowing walls and foundation damage. After the first heavy spring rain, the homeowners reported dry yards and no water reaching their foundations — for the first time in years.
