Missouri watershed journal
Use the lot as a small watershed.
Direct technical notes for comparing clay, grade, collectors, outlets, city review, and first-storm evidence.
Outlets and Discharge · 7 min
Read If the outlet is wrong, the drain is a buried trough.
A field note on roof-water volume, pop-ups, daylight, and why a French drain without a legal release fails on clay lots.
Permits · 7 min
Read Check O'Fallon Engineering before the trench looks simple.
A planning note on O'Fallon grading and land-disturbance review, MS4 context, and how those rules sit beside a backyard drain.
Soils and Grade · 8 min
Read Clay perches water. A trench only helps if it can leave.
A field-guide note that connects St. Charles County clay, original subdivision grade, pipe pitch, washed gravel, and a planned outlet.