In May 2014 I visited Ballysooghan raised bog in Co. Kildare to observe the restoration work to block an extensive drain network on the bog surface, which is being undertaken at the site. Shown here are the stages in the creation of a peat dam to block a recently installed surface drainage ditch on this raised bog. Thanks to Bord na Mona for facilitating the site visit.
1: A section of bank composed of surface scraw and catotelm peat is removed from either side of drainage ditch and place behind excavator.
2: Surface vegetation is removed from behind excavator, to expose saturated wet catotelm peat.
3: Saturated wet catotelm peat is repeatedly removed from borrow pit behind excavator and placed in the drain.
4: Removal of wet saturated catotelm peat from borrow pit behind excavator.
5: Peat dam is raised above surrounding peat surface (this allows for future shrinkage of the dam).
6: Peat dam is covered with living surface scraw materials taken from margins of drain. This helps re-growth of surface vegetation on the catotelm peat of the dam.
7: Peat dam is lightly "tapped down" to stabilise it and remove any cavities to ensure it is impermeable to the flow of water and will make a good seal.
8: Borrow pit is back filled with peat removed from edge of drain at the start of the process and the surface scraws removed from the area initially.
9: Completed dam with digger moving forward to the location of the next drain.
10: Appearance of completed peat dam created approximately 2 weeks earlier. Note the raised water table in drain, relative to the water level in the still functional drain seen in stage 3 photograph above.
