My First BIG Steps of Turning A Wasteland Into A Desert Forest 

Shaun, first I want to say that I admire the effort you are making and its purpose. The fact that you are doing this on your own time and dime is admirable. Things to consider. Water is the most destructive force on earth! A cubic foot of water is approx. 7.5 gallons and a gallon of water weighs 8.3 lbs. So a cubic foot weighs 62 lbs. A heavy rainfall is considered to be 0.30 inches of water in an hour, not unheard of in west Texas. 59% is sheeting. 3.5 acres of drainage area is 152k ft^2 so in one hour an you would have 3,800 ft^3 of water behind your earth dam or 236,000 lbs of water. Assuming your dam has a 12' top, 20' base, 45 degree slopes on either side and is 20' long, you have approximately 94 cubic yards of dirt at approximate 2,000 lbs per yard or about 189,000 lbs. You probably never want more than 150,000 lbs of water behind your dam or it is likely that all that earth you just moved will very quickly make its way to the Rio Grande. I'd recommend that you install a vertical pipe on the upstream side of the dam with the opening approximately 18 inches above the base of the dam and then bend the pipe to go through the base of the dam at a 1% slope. Put a rigid mesh barrier sticking out vertically from top of the pipe to hold back debris. Your pipe should be sized to handle 475 gpm as in a 0.30 inch/hour rain storm that is how many gallons are accumulating per hour off of the 3.5 acres. 1% is to reduce the velocity of the water on the outlet side to prevent erosion, and put lots of rocks at the outlet pipe (riprap) to further prevent erosion. This table tells you how many gpm a pipe can flow at a give slope www.ndspro.com/PDFs/Tech-Spec-Sheets/Table-NDS-Pipe-Flow-Rates.pdf. I'd also recommend that you add a foot of soil to the dam at a time and then run the dozer over it multiple times to compact the soil. This is called compacting in lifts. It is better if you can wet the soil, but clearly that is not an option. You can also armor the slopes of your damn with rocks if you can gather enough. This will add weight and prevent erosion. Do not plant the top of the dam. The roots will degrade the dam and water will find the easiest path through and once you have a leak, it will fail. Sorry to be so long winded. I'd just hate to see you do so much work and have it fail. P.S. my math is rough calculations making many assumptions and I am not an engineer.

New subscriber, here! Been a fan of permaculture for the last decade, so it's incredibly inspiring to see you greening the desert here right in one of the most inhospitable landscapes in the US. I just binge-watched your whole channel, and I know that YouTubing adds another level of burden to this project that most don't understand, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for going the extra mile and sharing this journey with us. People need to see that this kind of regeneration is possible, right here in our own backyard... 🌳

Nice work buddy. I am from Greece, and there's quite a few places around here, and throughout all the Mediterranean region facing similar problems. One solution you should consider is planting carob trees within that torrent area. Carob trees need less water, they are heat resistant, fire resistant, they produce a lot of organic natter to enrich the soil, and their fruit attracts many animals. You really should consider this, you know my country is literally baked under the sun each summer and we have like 300+ days of sunshine every year, so believe me l know what I'm talking about.

In other videos I have seen about revitalizing land from desert to green. They control the flow of water. They make bowls or wells for water to get trapped in. They use the slopes for the water to run into these wells or bowls. Where the bowls are placed are plants grow. Keeping as much water in the area and being a part of the groundwater is important. The bowls act like beaver dams in that they keep water in the area longer which allows life to grow easier in the area.

Easy to see why you are successful at most everything you put your mind to. Your patience, research and common sense approach are interesting to watch. Not afraid to fail, not afraid to admit when you do is also not a common trait. Picking up operating the dozer rather quickly! Keep up the hard work! People are learning valuable lessons from you.

May I suggest planting paloverde trees? A desert tree that grows in the deserts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. It drops bean pods that are good for jack rabbits, deer and birds. It can also provide shade for other plants. Might be helpful in terraforming your land.

Shaun. Buy an o ring kit, additional fuel filters, hydraulic filters, fuses, and hydraulic oil for that dozer. A good amount of your break downs will be those items and they are relatively inexpensive to keep on hand to get you back up and running quick.

Can’t wait to se the results in 1,2 and 10 years. I think you will inspire many people to do the same not only in the desert southwest, but in similar geography worldwide. Thank you for sharing and documenting this!

I think there is an Andrew millison video where a man builds 10 ponds across the decline watershed of his land. The creek below would only run half the year. Now it runs all year long and he has mirrored Mother Earth using her model to rebuild the land.

New to channel and finally getting to most recent video. I love what you are doing. I will be tuning as your project moves forward. So far it is super interesting and definitely a learning experience. The progress is real and enjoyable in seeing it all come together. Love the channel and love what you are trying to accomplish.

You might want to use some erosion fencing to help keep the water from washing out the dirt at the bank of your wadi. If you will notice: the parts that didn't wash out had more vegetation and rock in the soil.

Shaun you’re the best man. We all want you to win keep going!

We’re going to be watching this man swim in his lake in 2030. Whole crew of dozers working the gully!

Plant mulberry. its fast growing, drought tolerant, hard, edible.. produces countless seeds

You can see the investment of the bulldozer in a single video. The diagram with the water flow really helped create your vision for me. I love this channel, and hopefully, you'll be creating videos in your desert jungle in 20 years.

I love the fact that you are not just thinking it through, but listen to other opinions, mentally fitting it to your situation and act only when all the details are in place. Diagrams help so much to see and understand what's going on. You are doing fantastic job!

I’m so happy you’re doing this. It is hard to imagine anything growing in the desert. In the near future all the soil on earth will be sand. It’s called desertification when there is no organic matter in the soil. What you are doing is a project that won’t be recognized for thousands of years but once the plants grow the animals will come and the organic matter will change the soil back into a loam. In the mean time you will utilize the only available soil on earth (sand)

Keep up the good work Shaun. I hope it all comes together and works out well for you and all the volunteers.

I have something that will help the soil to hold moisture. Check out Bio char. Take wood burn it to a charcoal, Quincy the fire don’t let it burn to ash then leave the char pan on top of the soil. Eventually it will work into the soil and the charcoal absorbs holds moisture keeping the soil with moisture longer through the dry part of the year.

I'm watching from North Down, Northern Ireland. The funny thing is, we here have way too much water. Little sun but loads of rain. Like rain between the showers. It's funny watching Shaun fight for every last drop.

Very interested in what you're doing! Wishing you all the luck 😊

The dozer really helps. Love seeing the progress you can make with it. I cannot wait to see how this works. You are inspiring people to try the same thing on some inexpensive desert land.

For those who haven't seen it, there is a great video of a life-long land rehabilitation in West Texas by a man named David Bamberger , it's on RU-vid by National Geographic.

If you have access to a large screen/ shaker you have all that sand , gravel and large rock you could build some French drains then cover them with sand.

Thanks for your agile mindset and approach. Plan for failure so that you maximize your learning ❤

When you refer to getting 14 inches of rainfall, that's over the entire watershed. If 4 inches runoff into a streambed, that's accumulation of square miles into a narrow channel, bringing the water level up to many feet.

An easier method to figure out level is to use a clear 50' hose filled with dyed water. One guy stands at the control, and the other guy walks around to find level. You could also design the outflow culverts/pipes to dump the pond overflows in to swales on contour...

Can you run the drone periodically and set up a long term timelapse so we can see the differences in the seasons and year over year progress?

again tnxz and respect from the netherlands, europe !

Thanks I really enjoy watching workmen who know what they are doing do a good job. Some people might say that is not the case here, Autocad used to have civil engineers in charge now they have software programmers in charge. I see here what happens to civil engineering when software programmers are in charge.

Small suggestion. Every time you drive over there why don’t you toss in the truck organic matter such as grass clippings, garden scraps, maybe even kitchen scraps (if you want to risk introducing foreign seeds) and just fill the swales just to give it head start. Nice videos following you since the beginning.

I think its unlikely that those ponds will hold water long enough to use it for irrigation. But if the goal in infiltration then it will do that very well.

A uselful metthod to find a level for swales could be to use a U shape of hose pipe filled with water.a bit like a giant spirit level. One end of the U is fixed to the ground and the other mobile end can be used to find locations with the same height. The principle is based on the fact that the water in both ends of the U will be at the same level.

Incredible progress, and hope to get out there this year to both help and learn for my land as well.

Get a few neighbors to go in together and have the boring company to build intermittent underground homes and cisterns by plugging and backfilling the cistern sections, no evaporation, solar pump houses, cool living and if you have a source of good stones for building slipformed homes like the Nearings did in “Living the Good Life” Love what your doing.

Lets go bro i love you , keep doing it, dont lose hope and thank you very much for what you are trying to do

Looks like you might get some rain tomorrow. Good luck. Can't wait to see if your new dams hold some.

Can't wait to see the results in the future! This is the FIRST time I've ever subscribed to a channel to get notifications. Love gardening and love this idea. I also have an API based company. Future collab? Cheers!

I've been waiting Shaun! Hope your well

Can't wait to see in the next 5 years

After years of wearing the same style of ear plugs I found that flipping them around works better. Not the actual directions but they stay in better, and seal better. Try it out and let me know buddy.

Get it buddy!! Keep going!!

Seriously after watchin' you struggle with that Tacoma at the start and see ya now ...well done . A 15 + ton excavator would help too.

If it helps you should try water dousing to find where the water table is.

Wishing the best of luck for you please don’t give up!

If you can make few borewell and harvest the rain water into them will rise up ground water level quickly.

Enjoy watching your progress.

I found your first video this morning. This evening I've found that I've watched them all. I must say, your effort is impressive; you're actually going out and trying something. I'm also very appreciative of you not only sharing your successes, but your failures as well; we learn as you learn, and I suspect that if you keep with this project, it could prove to be (even more) valuable learning material. I'm glad to see your mood has improved, I hope it stays that way. Food for thought: Some may think you're nuts, some may think you're foolish, and some may think worse... but I would argue that was similarly thought of many of the visionaries/pioneers in history during their time, and now they're celebrated.

My homestead is in New England, so I'm fighting the reverse problem - always adding French drains, etc to move unwanted water AWAY. Fascinating to watch your processes, even if they have nothing to do with my challenges.

Shaun i've been following this channel since i stumbled on your first video over a year ago, keep up the great work and continue letting your community know if there's anything we can do to help.

Ahh man I can't wait to see you working full time on this project, and akt more helping hands

Sorry for more than one comment, Riley from ambition strikes made his road in Idaho , he started out knowing zilch , he is an awesome guy. Dozza specialist

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. I mean, you taking action and having a plan and doing it!! Keep in mind that some feedback if not always positive yet constructive can be very powerful and insightful for you. Myself I want you to succeed, but became tired of videos without much clout.. BUT I love to see you tsking large action and building big things and lets see how things develop.. save that water, use that water and your desert can become your legacy..

Keep it up. I look forward to watching the progress

Fun to watch!

can't wait to see the pond later this year

Did I miss the video the set up of those buildings in the background? I remember the purchase via auction and was looking forward to the placement and logistics involved....where is the video?

Very brave. I hope he pulls this off! I wonder how far this is from civilisation, I would not even discuss lining the pond for me that's a mandatory decision.

@SeanOverton | DUSTUPS one thing you may want to consider is putting in a culvert in your Earthen dams and driving that caterpillar back and forth along the top to compress it extremely well. Loosely packed earthen dams wash away when the runoff exceeds the capacity for the damn to hold it back and it breaches. Not trying to be a jerk and tell you what to do just FYI. Great work!!!

EXCITING!!!!! BE BLESSED!!!

That light color dirt that you have their looks like caliche . It's pretty good to make roads out of

BTW, that triangle frame and rock + rope plumb bob is SO ancient Mesopotamian!

Build a Dome, make the dome frame out of recycled plastic materials make lots of small domes.

Use fill from the inner part of the pond/dam so you have the double benefit of building the dam and hollowing out the water retention area But to be honest I’m not watch close enough to really tell where you ARE getting the dam material

I wish I had your courage and confidence.

Do you think in the “wetter zones” mix some biochair to increase the soil fertility, it may also work a little like a sponge

If I owned land in an area like that I would be looking to get as much advice from the nearby ranchers as they are willing to share. A good rancher knows better than to "mine" the soil for whatever they can extract from it. They understand the need to feed and nurture the soil so it can achieve good health. I've found that a lot of people who work the land develop a deep affection for it. They are most familiar with the conditions and have learned what works and what doesn't. They try to care for the land in ways that will result in it becoming as fertile and vigorous as possible. I'd also be looking for ways that I could reciprocate their help so that the relationships are mutually beneficial. Ideally both parties would be receiving enough value from the other so that the time they exchanged was worthwhile. It is doubly rewarding if you can develop friendships, trust and camaraderie.

If you haven’t already check out the Miyawaki method!!

19:30 No primary porosity. Could have secondaey porosity though. That could turn what would otherwise be an aquifuge to an excellent aquifere.

I watched a documentary about agricultural hydrogels and how they successfully used them to plant trees in a hot semi arid area. No idea if there is any toxicity or not.

lookin like a good plan. staying tuned for the progress :) Thanks for sharing♥

Great to see you making moves! Nice progress. In no way doubting you, but curious because what you're doing is an incredible case study, I'm wondering if you've included a bedrock study in your planning, e.g. using the state or county's GIS portal; and if you're familiar with piezometers.

Invest in an A frame with a line level. on the dozer.

This is so enjoyable to watch

Thank you for sharing!

im korea, i saw your dessert revive project and i think its cool

How about trying to grow hemp for feed for cows and it is a natural product that brakes down into the soil makes perfect compost

love this plan

I don't understand the upward angle pipe 'to prevent sentiment buildup'. Won't that encourage buildup on the inlet? I would have the inlet drain vertical and 1 foot above the dessert and drain down and then follow the terrain slope

Found the channel like a week ago and I’m now all caught up, kind of sad I have to wait a week for an episode when I was used to watching 2 or 3 in one sitting #2epsidoesAweekPlease

@HarvestingRainwater (Brad Lancaster) would love what you're doing!

Awesome dude. Love it.

I want this to work so bad.

A dam needs clay to seal it and make it water proof.The good clay is usually just under the top soil or subsoil layer.

You should leave some dessert tiles to generate faith.

Keep your eyes peeled for arrowheads and other native artifacts while your out there digging.

Just curious why you don’t use a pond liner for a section to hold the water for longer periods?

Do you have before and after videos. We need to see progress pls

We’re slowely watching this man’s dreams come true

Are you going to eventually homestead there?

I'm making some assumptions here and yes, I understand how dangerous it is to make assumptions. I assume that your belief is: by introducing more vegetation into the desert you are trying to improve the earth's environment, which I applaud. More trees on this earth can only help. I don't want to sound like a "Hater" but it doesn't sound like you have done your homework in understanding the components, regulations, and forces involved with retaining ponds. Without large/substantial aggregate in your dam, it will fail. What is your calculated hydraulic force on the dam? Where is your spillway and, what range of depth will you have on your spillway to avoid excess pressure as well as have enough water to validate the existence of a retaining pond? Risk of washout? Composition of the soil? Environmental impact in retaining water up slope? I'm pretty sure there are county and state requirements regulating the construction of a retaining pond. Even if you don't to comply with the local laws, it would be worth your time to research the factors in a retaining pond.

When making the dam, you cut groves in the hill side to the top of the dam; won't that just put extra water on the top of your dam? I'd thought you wanted to move that dirt down the hill and then down stream to keep too much water from flowing on top of the dam.

A laser level will let you find a contour line far faster and with far, far much less labor than that A frame, and be more accurate as well.

U remind me of ‘the Dutch farmer ‘on u/t

Man I really want to see some water

The desert will grind you down and win. Better to adjust to the desert as it is and enjoy it native charm.

Hope it works ! How long will the water last ? Why not dig wells ?

Use the technique of Masanobu Fukuoka

Lookes is not needed for the top of terrace. Leaving terrace alone for safety for you and dozer. If you have to elevel terrace do it when some one is there with you. If start tipping, turn dozer sharply down hill. Which may damage your terrace. Leave terrace unelevel will save time and money. The unelevel terrace will take care of itself.

In china ,I see them reclaiming desert since their desert is claming more used land. THey would plant this grass that would stop the progression. Pretty interesting