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How to Check the Elevation of a Ditch

Elevation refers to the number of feet a particular place is above sea level. The higher elevation an address is, the less likely it will flood. Many maps and atlases list elevation and other aspects of topography. Ditches are trench-like holes, often created for drainage purposes. Ditches will be lower in elevation than the property that surrounds the ditch. Some county or town records may list the elevation of a ditch but you will probably have to determine the elevation yourself, based on the elevation around the ditch.

Things You'll Need

Computer
Tape measure

Instructions

- 1
  Visit a website to locate elevation information on an address. Websites such as GPSies, Velo Routes or Earth Tools all provide elevation for a particular address. The links to these sites can be found in the "Resources" section.
- 2
  Enter the address closest to the ditch. Click "Search" when finished. Note the elevation in feet of the address close to the ditch.
- 3
  Search through county records for information about the depth of the ditch, if it is available.
- 4
  Measure the depth of the ditch if you cannot locate county records about the ditch. Most ditches are shallow enough that you will be able to climb in. Use a measuring tape and record the depth of the ditch in feet.
- 5
  Subtract the depth of the ditch from the elevation of the nearest address. This will give you the elevation of the ditch.

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