Guide to Canal Management and Maintenance

Canals may be visually appealing, but that isn't their main purpose — they exist to help control flood risks. Effective maintenance of the land surrounding the canal is a must to ensure proper flow and emergency access. Knowing the fundamentals will help you carry out this maintenance more safely, successfully, and efficiently.

Determine the Right Maintenance Schedule

Failing to maintain canals inhibits access and creates challenges during inspection. Mowing too often can promote erosion. The key is to find the right schedule for the canal banking and rights-of-way you're maintaining. This can vary based on multiple factors, like climate and vegetation growth. For instance, drought-prone areas with less rainfall have fewer mowing needs. On the other hand, you may have to maintain the land more often if an invasive plant or tree species is common in your area to prevent its spread.

Define the specific factors that impact maintenance frequency for your area to determine the best mowing schedule.

Control Vegetation

Many of the plants, grasses, and other vegetation that take root near the water block proper drainage — the very reason the canals exist. If excess water can't find a path forward, it flows backward and increases the risk of flooding for nearby properties. Overgrown vegetation can also be home to unfriendly wildlife, especially the kind that packs a poisonous bite.

Control the flora before it can take over, reducing the potential for water backup and helping keep dangerous fauna out.

Tackle Slopes Safely

Canal banking is vital in proper water discharge velocity and sediment control. But banks can be very difficult to maintain safely and efficiently with traditional riding mowers and crews using string-trimmers. The steeper the slope, the more challenging it becomes to prevent equipment rollovers and nasty falls.

Generally, mowing slopes side-to-side is best. Carefully examine the slope's pitch before starting, as taller vegetation can skew the perception of how steep the bank is.

Revolutionize Canal Mowing With RC Mowers

Greater efficiency, safety, and niche revenue are all within reach with the R Series Remote-Operated Robotic Mower. It's the revolutionary way to handle uneven terrain, tricky slopes, and gnarly vegetation with ease and confidence.

We've engineered the R Series for maximum impact with rugged construction and amazing first-pass results. This beast brings safety to your fleet with remote joystick operation from up to 1,000 feet away. Mow slopes up to 50° and blow through brush up to 1.5 inches with one person in less than half the time compared to a seven-person crew using conventional equipment.