First off you need to figure out where the water is supposed to go. The first thing we did was re do the gutters on the back part of our house so the down spouts did not empty into the yard but off to the sides where the water was supposed to flow towards the front. We went with much bigger gutters and double down spouts to carry the larger volume of water vs multiple smaller down spouts emptying into the back yard. That one thing made a huge improvement, but in our case did not solve the problem. So, from looking at the subdivision plans and consulting the City, the water was supposed to flow from the back towards the front. No water is allowed to flow towards any adjoining property. HOA required detailed plans be submitted and no dirt brought in. To create better drainage, we had to remove dirt. It looked like the builder never did the final grade work, only the initial building grade work. Our house is 11 years old and we are the second owners. Our research indicated most of the lots in our subdivision have similar issues. It took a while but we eventually got it figured out and fixed. We hired an engineer firm to survey and plat the lot. From that we determined the high point in center of the backyard and went from there. We met with the city people again, and lots of various kinds of dirt movers, drainage experts, anyone we thought could help solve the problem of our swamp. We ended up re grading the grass areas of the back yard, both in the center and along the sides. Which got me new sod, more and bigger flower beds too! (a good thing) Nearly everyone we talked with about the project wanted to install drains from the back out towards the front with pop ups at the end, which is pretty standard in our area. Only 2 knew how to do it with out drains. Most of them had no idea how to create natural drainage! Our city has a code that water that enters a drainpipe and travels underground must exit at the street, cored through the curb. (another not so cheap expense) We absolutely did not want drains installed, french or other wise. We spend a lot of time outdoors and mosquitoes are a big issue. No matter how well the drains are installed there is always some water left standing and the pop ups always have water standing in them. Drains also get clogged and crate a mess someone has to go and clean up. (that someone would be me) We finally found someone who understood our concerns and knew how to create natural drainage! But it took a while. It was not cheap, but in our case the best solution. Now we have good natural drainage, & no drainpipes. There is one area out front on one side that could use some tweaking (due to neighbors drain off carried there as well) to work better and quicker, but other than that it is swampy only for a short while after heavy, sustained rains during the cool season. Before you do anything, research your situation, and find out any code restrictions you may have. It will save you money and time down the road. While you are working on that, I think the first thing which isn't all that expensive would be addressing the gutter down spouts. See if you can re direct the water that flows from your roof away from the back yard and foundation and towards the direction the water is supposed to be flowing out. Good Luck with your project! Here's photos of just the center portion of the yard which was always swampy before the grade work. before: summer 2009 when we moved in during grade work: summer 2010 after: winter 2012

You build it up at the house. You start at the house, as well as at the neighbors fence (in the sketch), and you make the area high where you don't want water. Low area will get, and keep, water. High area will throw water to the low area. So build it up, in both 'area 1' on my sketch, and right next to the house. Note that the lower, water area is now thrown both toward the street, and out toward the middle of the lawn. Next project: build up area 2, on my sketch, and right next to area 1 on the house: the water is now thrown even MORE toward the middle of the lawn, as well as more toward the street. Once you've got that under control, relax. Have a beer. Grow some grass. Do more next year. Perhaps next month. But that's enough for now, so you don't get overwhelmed, and don't get broke.

I'm pretty sure most counties have an animal control specialist that will either trap the 'squatter' for you or loan you a live trap (the more rural counties do anyway). They could also give you an idea of how to trap it (ie what kind of bait to use - if any) If you're not seeing digging around in your yard or nearby, I suspect it is something other than an armadillo. I like Carrie's mothball idea. Or, you could use the tactile method. Reach in the hole: 1) Vibrating feel and sound followed by excruciating pain = rattlesnake 2) Soft, luxurient pelt, mild odor, followed by excruciating pain as you pull back - no fingers = badger 3) Soft, luxurient pelt, strong odor, followed by excrucitating pain = (that's right) skunk 4) Hard, slick feel with slight 'harriness' = armadillo 5) Cool squishy feel, laughing from neighbor's house = teenagers placing fresh cow pie in odd hole under your house. on second thought, call the county. ; - ) J.D. aka Stumpy

From afar, with nothing to go on but your verbal description, and since there is only SPECULATION about the cause of overflowing -- not confirmed facts -- the advice is no more than speculation about the prognosis. A "dip," though it wouldn't be a great thing in a drain line, may or may not make a difference in flow. (Degrees matter.) If the drain overflowed but was not clogged, it seems that it didn't measure up to the capacity needed. This is a common problem. 4" lines are used even when 6" and 8" lines should be installed. A french drain being installed along the foundation MAY help, but the term "french drain" means different things to different people, so the details will matter. For all practical purposes, during a hard rain, it's not going to matter if there is foliage or roots "to absorb water." It will come down to grading and drainage. Rocks around a drain won't necessarily matter either, unless they wash & clog the drain. If debris is clogging the drain opening, a good thing to do would be to install a drain cage. Chances are, though, that your real problem is capacity.