Smart water maintenance with the Herder mowing bucket
Water management with the Herder mowing bucket requires more than simply removing vegetation. To ensure proper water flow, a healthy water system, and the reliable operation of irrigation and drainage structures, regular and well-considered maintenance is essential. Ditches, waterways, and canals demand an approach focused on control, precision, and the prevention of blockages.
The Herder mowing bucket was developed with exactly this in mind: smart, controlled, and efficient water management without unwanted side effects.
Why smart water management is essential
Poorly maintained waterways can quickly lead to:
- reduced water flow;
- flooding during heavy rainfall;
- deterioration of water quality;
- damage to surrounding land and infrastructure.
Floating vegetation and loose cuttings pose a major risk to culverts, pumping stations, and weirs. Especially in times of extreme weather, long periods of drought followed by heavy rainfall, the importance of proper maintenance becomes increasingly evident.
Uncontrolled removal or excavation of vegetation can also cause soil erosion, making waterways more vulnerable during peak water loads.
Smart water management therefore goes beyond vegetation removal alone; it focuses on keeping water flow, ecology, and infrastructure under control.
The role of the Herder mowing bucket
The Herder mowing bucket is a versatile and effective tool for maintaining ditches and waterways. Unlike traditional methods, it enables targeted and selective operations.
- Vegetation is cut in a controlled manner
- Cut material is removed directly from the waterway
- Floating debris is prevented from spreading
By removing vegetation instead of shredding it, the mowing bucket prevents plant material from remaining in the water. This directly improves water flow and helps prevent blockages that can disrupt irrigation and drainage systems.
The mowing bucket is designed for efficient and precise operation in combination with a Herder mowing arm or boom system. The operator has excellent visibility of the working area, ensuring maximum control along banks, slopes, and the waterbed. This minimizes unnecessary disturbance of the waterway and allows maintenance work to be carried out consistently and professionally.
Mowing versus alternative maintenance methods
The accompanying animation video clearly shows why mowing with the Herder mowing bucket is preferred over alternative maintenance methods such as flailing, shredding, or pulling vegetation. With these alternatives, vegetation often remains (partially) in the water, leading to floating debris, blockages, and increased strain on the water system.
Mowing with the mowing bucket is a management measure, not a disturbance. Vegetation is cut in a controlled way and immediately removed from the waterway. As a result:
- Water flow is maintained immediately;
- Floating cuttings are avoided;
- Blockages at culverts, pumping stations, and weirs are prevented;
- Irrigation and drainage systems continue to function reliably.
In addition, mowing enables selective maintenance. Only unwanted or obstructive vegetation is removed, while the waterway retains its profile and ecological function. This makes mowing with the mowing bucket not only more effective in the short term, but also more sustainable for long-term water management.
Additional nature-friendly water management with the Fish Protector
For water managers looking to take ecological responsibility one step further, the Fish Protector is a valuable addition to the (existing) Herder mowing bucket.
The Fish Protector is designed to warn fish and other aquatic life during mowing operations actively. Using light flashes, fish are alerted in time and encouraged to move away from the mowing area. This helps prevent fish from ending up on the bank with the cut material or being unintentionally harmed.
This addition:
- Increases the environmental sustainability of water maintenance;
- Aligns with ecological management and codes of conduct;
- Is easy to combine with the mowing basket, without affecting working speed or control.
In combination with the controlled operation of the mowing basket, the Fish Protector contributes to responsible water management, maintaining a balance between water drainage, safety, and ecology. No extra work for the operator, but extra protection for the ecosystem.
Would you like to see how the Herder mowing basket works in practice? Contact Herder or your local dealer for more information or a demonstration.