Septic System

The septic system has been installed!  With 5 acre lots, everyone in Castle Valley uses a septic tank with leach fields to control sewage.  I'm not sure I love the idea of dealing with our own sewage onsite, but this is the way it is done.  From what I have read, we also have a bit of a learning curve on how to keep the septic system happy.  No vegetables, no powdered dishwasher soap, etc.  The only evidence of the system is the disturbed surface area for installing the tank and trenches, and two very small stop-and-waste caps.  Hopefully, it will function as designed -- out of sight -- out of mind.

Rock Retaining Wall

We tried to locate the cabin site on the highest point on the lot, but in order to meet setback requirements, there is still a bit of elevation gain above the cabin site.  Flooding and sheet flow are very real dangers on this side of the valley as the natural drainage course of the water flows from the sheer cliff walls of the rim down and across the valley to the low point.  We have already seen 100 year flood levels of water gush down Pope Lane in a torrent and flow across the lower half of our lot with incredible force depositing small boulders and debris in its wake.  As the cabin pad was being built, it became apparent that the pad would have to be pretty high to avoid potential sheet flooding from the high side of the valley.  Instead of building the pad site up even higher, a rock wall was constructed to essentially protect the cabin from flooding by redirecting any flood waters out and away from either side of the cabin.  It is best described as an "eyebrow" around the backside of the cabin.  I am not a big fan of retaining walls or other artificial berming, but I have to say that this wall looks pretty cool.  The workmanship is spectacular and I think it will actually give us some privacy off the backside of the house.