If you want it to be registered with the FAA, that's another story.
If the land is in the Conservation Reserve Program, there are rules about using the land as an "airport" as they used to phrase it. The feds use aerial/satellite photos of property in CRP to intermittently check on compliance and will actually take the money back if it's not being used the way they specify.
Our mechanic put in a grass strip on his farm about three miles from us and he had to do more/bigger drain pipes for his runway. If you're down here again sometime, I'm sure he would be glad to visit with you...he's a really sharp guy.
Registering it with the FAA is not high on my priorities, but I definitely want to eventually. I know, as a pilot, that I like the peace of mind knowing where good emergency landing sites are, so I'd like to get it charted eventually.
Good call on the CRP. I know my dad has met with them and has some plans for it, I just don't know if it's in that area. Definitely high on my list now to check it out.
I'd definitely like to talk to him if I'm down that way soon. Can never get enough input from the pros.
As for the runway itself I did a lot of work moving rock around tHe property to build some elevation and crown as well as stabilize the clay in the rain. When the grass filled in I spread a bunch of truck loads, 9 IIRC (only $400 a piece) of Red River sand and finish brushed it with a fairway sweeper borrowed from the golf course. It made it an all weather runway and was fairway smooth which was kind of important to me.
I understand the importance of all that, but that's a bit too intense for me at this point. To start, I'm just trying to get in a strip that can be very lightly used, and only when dry. Down the road I'd like to make it all-weather and such, but that's just not really feasible at this point.
Here's what little I know, dated and not specific to MO.
Check with other grass strip operators about what turf to use. You don't want a bunch grass but rather something like blue grass. Also, get tips on crowning, drainage and rolling and critter control/repair.
I'd be a little leery of the several small culverts silting in and would wonder if one larger one would stay clear better. PVC will burn if you ever get a hot enough grass fire.
The FAA doesn't care if you have an airstrip unless it impinges on controlled airspace. Talk to them at Regional if you want to register it.
The State of Missouri may or may not care - ask at their DOT.
Counties may or may not require a zoning determination or conditional use permit.
Some localities say, "whatever the FAA says" without knowing that the FAA doesn't say much.
If you ignore everything and just build it, you may get away with calling it an occasional landing strip, but if you put in a hangar and use it regularly, then if neighbors complain who do you deal with? Likely the county. Thus, it may not be a bad idea to see what your county says. Of course, if they say something you don't like and you ignore them, then you have little defense if they come after you.
Don't assume that local airports on the ground now provide much info for you - they could be grandfathered (or ignored) and laws could have changed.
At the bottom, of course, insurance may be affected if you ignore the law.
Your pictures didn't open for me so I can't judge them well, but keep in mind that if you are dealing with navigable waters, you are dealing the Corps of Engineers. Your case probably is not, navigable waters are usually defined as any stream that will float a log any time of year - may people are shocked to hear the COE gets a say on their ground.
If you are dealing with what are defined as wetlands, don't drain them without permission from NRCS or you will get a hefty fine.
Keep in mind that USDA takes pictures all the time and those pictures are available to many people, so don't assume that your project will not be seen.
On my own part, I would not get too paranoid about all this, just suggesting areas for you to consider investigating if you have the interest. Don't assume that if you ignore government that it will necessarily ignore you.
Good things to look into here. I'm not sure replacing turf would be too high on my priority either. For very light use, I'd feel comfortable landing on the existing grass in the field (assuming a bit of fertilization to thicken it a bit).
The creek only flows at most 20-30 days a year, and never much more than a few gallons per minute. I'd think several 6" pipes shouldn't get silted in too much, especially with regular maintenance and flushing before it can build up too much.
Shouldn't be any COE issues, but that creek does flow into another creek about 100yds down, which is the headwaters of the current river. However, that creek is definitely not navigable. Most summers there's not even a puddle left.
What you really want is a thick thatch creeper that stays low and soft requiring minimal mowing and preserves water.
Definitely my goal, but as above, I don't think it's a high priority for light use.
Jim, couple of random thoughts -
This is not a strip for twins. It is short and rugged. Cubs, Scouts, etc. will do nicely.
Rent or borrow a land scraper and big tractor and begin sculpting the ground to straighten out the humps and that kink. Moving the departure end 'down' and the creek crossing 'up' will give you an almost straight runway. Some of the trees have to go.
Get advice from an experienced excavator. Top soil needs to be moved and piled, then the subsoil scraped and sculpted, then the top soil spread on top. I would put a tile down the rwy center line from each end into the creek to keep the rwy dry spring and fall.. The creek crossing will need to be built up a couple of feet or more.
Have someone lay out the rwy onto a tax description and have that piece registered with the county as a runway. After it is so registered for a few years then the 'new' neighbors cannot shut it down - it may be distantly rural now, but what about in 10 or 20 years? Local fella just went through that when a neighbor contracted to have a cell tower put on his property, directly in line with this guys existing rwy ( there for decades). The cell company wanted the tower bad enough to hire a big name NYC law firm to shut his rwy down. The specific point the judge cited in his ruling was that the rwy was listed on the tax rolls as such and therefore was privileged and protected under FAA regs..
How close is the airport - are you within their airport traffic area?
List the rwy with the State and FAA as Private with prior permisson required to protect you from the inevitable crash law suit by some thrill seeker.
Sorry, my "twin" comment was a bit misleading. I'm not planning on operating them from here. I said that as a reference for the aprrox. weight capability I'd need. Light twins are about the weight of the tractor and equipment I'd be driving over it, so I just said twins for the weight reference.
Unfortunately I can't move the runway and still have it long enough. Where the threshold is now, I only have to take down about 10 trees, because there is a small clearing in that area as well. Any farther to either side, and there's large trees off of my property that would be bad. The creek crossing can't be moved much more north, because there is a steep hill that would impede on wing clearance. And if it did straighten out much, it would run under those power lines too much. As much as I'd like to have it straighter, I just don't think it is viable.
The novelty of maintaining any large grass surface that requires mowing can wear off quickly.
I personally have to disagree. I find it very relaxing and enjoying to go out and mow our trails and fields for a few hours every day. When I worked at Spirit Airport, I'd finish my required work as soon as possible just so I could go out and mow. I've also had a lawn-care business for about 10 years. Needless to say, I actually love mowing and maintaining grass. Kinda weird, I know.
