Earthworks and Keyline Planning
Some land benefits from shaping water with earth: on-contour swales, a pond in the right draw, check dams in a gully, or a keyline pattern across a field. Some land does not. This plan starts by finding out which applies to yours.
Who it is for
- Owners considering a pond or swales who want to know if their terrain supports them
- Farmers exploring keyline patterns for pasture or cropland
- Anyone preparing to talk to an excavation contractor with a clearer brief
Questions it helps answer
- Is there a sensible place for a pond, and where would overflow go?
- Would swales help here, or would they create a wet, unstable slope?
- What would a keyline pattern look like on this field?
- Roughly how much soil would need to move?
What is included
Includes the full Water Story and the Foundational Topographic Map & Land Assessment.
- On-contour swales with sized cross-sections + overflowLevel ditches that catch and soak in rainwater instead of letting it run off.
- Keyline layoutA plowing pattern that spreads water from wet valleys toward dry ridges.
- Bedrock-screened pond siting + check-dam placementCheck dams are small barriers that slow water in channels and stop gully erosion.
- Cut/fill quantitiesHow much dirt to move, per feature and as a project total.
- High-precision GNSS stakeout + field packagePrecise GPS-marked points a contractor can build to.
Not included
- Stamped construction drawings, engineering sign-off or dam safety review
- Surveys of record or construction staking certified by a surveyor
- Permit applications, utility locating and wetland determinations
- Excavation or installation work
Scope, conditions and pricing notes
| Acreage | Fits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–10 acres | Homestead | $7,800 |
| 11–40 acres | Small farm | $10,500 |
| 41–100 acres | Family farm | $15,600 |
| 101–250 acres | Ranch entry | $23,400 |
| 251–500 acres | Working ranch | $34,000 |
| 501–1,000 acres | Processing ceiling | Apply for a quote |
Check your price
Enter your acreage to find your published band. The next step checks data coverage at your address before anything is charged.
1–10 acres · Homestead
$7,800
How it works
- 1
Start from your Water Story
The all-in price includes the Water Story and the Foundational Topographic Map.
- 2
Suitability first
Features are proposed only where terrain and water analysis support them. Some properties will receive few or none.
- 3
Walk it with your contractor
Your session covers how to verify the layout on the ground with your own qualified contractor before any digging.
Limitations to know
- Earthworks are not universally suitable. Soils, slope stability, bedrock, septic fields and utilities can make a feature unwise even when the map looks promising.
- Cut/fill quantities and GNSS files are planning estimates. Field verification, permits and safe execution are the responsibility of you and your licensed contractors.
- A pond or dam may be regulated where you live. Check local requirements before design is finalized.
Common questions
- Will every property get a pond?
- No. Ponds, swales and check dams are proposed only where the analysis supports them.
- Can my excavator build directly from the plan?
- The plan is a planning brief. Your contractor must verify it in the field and obtain any required permits and professional sign-offs first.
EarthDesign is a digital design and visualization platform. Outputs are advisory; site execution, regulatory permits, and licensed professional sign-offs remain the responsibility of the client and their licensed contractors. No warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is made, expressed, or implied.
Read the full Terms of Service & Disclaimers.