A suspended electric fence can cross a creek without forming a solid barrier to floodwater: its wires hang from a cable above the channel, and movable PVC sleeves help them shift as water rises. On an Iowa farm, Hans Jess reported that his version remained in place through eight floods in five years while debris floated past. That is one farmer’s experience, not an engineering guarantee for other sites.
How can a creek fence keep cows in while letting floodwaters through?
Instead of stretching a conventional fence across the creek at ground level, Jess suspended a span of vertical electric wires from a cable between the banks. Water and floating debris can pass beneath and through the open arrangement rather than pushing against a continuous fence panel.
Successful Farming’s feature, updated May 6, 2025, says earlier fencing on Jess’s Olin, Iowa, farm was carried away when a whole tree floated into the pasture. Jess built the suspended span afterward. He reported that it was still holding after eight floods in the previous five years and that debris floated past it. These are his reported results, not independently measured or controlled performance findings. Read the Successful Farming account.
How Jess’s suspended span is built
The reported dimensions below describe Jess’s installation, not a standard plan or construction specification. The feature does not provide engineering calculations for adapting it to another creek.
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| Part | Reported arrangement |
|---|---|
| Span and support | A 110-foot span of ½-inch steel cable passes through steel I-beams on the banks. Pulleys are at both ends, and turnbuckles allow tension adjustment. |
| Bank anchoring | The steel I-beams and anchor posts are cemented four feet deep on both banks. |
| Suspended supports | Ten-foot lengths of 1¼-inch PVC hang from the cable by chains. Flat washers let each pipe rotate on the cable. |
| Electric wires | Vertical #9 wires are partially enclosed in ½-inch PVC, with their lower portions extending below the sleeves. Twisted pieces of #9 wire maintain 16-inch spacing. |
| Wire support | Lightweight ½-inch metal conduit supports the wires. |
In the feature, the PVC sleeves are described as helping prevent tangling and allowing the wires to float as water rises. Jess said turnbuckles on both sides let him retighten the fence if something stretches or moves. The account also identifies twisting the #9 wire as the most time-consuming part of the work.
Why the electrical circuits are separate
The creek span has its own electric circuit, separate from the rest of the land fence. Jess said he can unhook the creek section during high water while leaving the land fence energized. Both circuits run from the farmstead, about one-eighth mile from the crossing.
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That arrangement is a reported feature of his setup; the article does not establish how to configure or safely operate circuits for a different installation. Electrical details should be checked with a qualified fence professional and the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.
What the reported cost and flood record do—and do not—show
Jess estimated that his project cost $250, as reported by Successful Farming in 2025. It is his estimate for that project, not a current price or a reliable budget for another crossing. The article does not give a standardized materials list or current component prices.
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Likewise, eight floods in five years is Jess’s account of his own fence’s experience, not a flood-performance rate that can predict how a design will behave elsewhere. Creek width, bank conditions, flood behavior, debris, livestock, and construction details all vary; the available account does not provide calculations to determine whether the arrangement is suitable for a particular site.
Another documented option: a swinging cable-hung gate
A 2021 Successful Farming feature describes a different flood-tolerant cattle crossing: swinging gates made from repurposed bed parts hang from a bottom cable, with utility poles and steel cable serving as anchors. The farmer reported that high water had nearly reached the fence posts and that cattle did not approach the gate. This is a separate farmer account, not a side-by-side comparison with Jess’s suspended electric span. Read the 2021 gate feature.
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Consider the site and management needs before choosing between approaches:
- How rising water and floating debris are likely to interact with the crossing.
- How the crossing contains livestock at ordinary water levels and during high water.
- Whether an electric section that can be isolated is useful for the operation.
- The creek width and bank conditions, and what inspection or repair work the owner can manage.
The two reports do not establish a universally better design. A site-specific assessment is needed to judge suitability.
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Check waterway rights and conservation considerations before building
Streambank fencing can limit livestock contact with water and reduce trampling of banks and vegetation. A 1995 Pequea-Mill Creek Project leaflet prepared by Penn State Cooperative Extension, NRCS, and partners also describes potential benefits for fish habitat and water quality. It is historical, qualitative guidance—not a measured evaluation of Jess’s fence. The leaflet recommends consulting project staff about fence placement, materials, stream crossings, pasture watering systems, and financial-assistance options. Read the Pequea-Mill Creek Project leaflet.
Rules can vary by location and waterway. Colorado State University Extension cautions that ditch companies and water users may prohibit or condition fences in an irrigation-ditch right-of-way because they can hinder maintenance and catch trash. That is Colorado-specific guidance, not a rule for every jurisdiction. Check with the relevant local authority about rights, permits, easements, and waterway requirements before construction. See Colorado State University Extension’s guidance on irrigation ditches and fences.
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