We have a creek through our place that has so much over flow and layers that it is very hard to water livestock .I got the AI answer for this but it does not enlighten me too much . It is slow then fast in several places ,I might be smart to pool it up more ? By spring the ice is 3 ft ( in layers ) I can wade it in boots 8 in now . Well it is iceing up fast now .

Apparently you have well below freezing temps?

Oh yes. It is near impossible to water my horses without major excavation ! I hate turning on the hrdrant in Jan THuu March Even though they drain back as designed to do .

I have experienced 2 types of overflow.
1. Small Creeks I cross with my snowmachine and it causes the creek water to freeze at the trail and dam the creek up and it can build up to 10 feet high and several hundred feet upstream.
2. River gets ice and freezes down to gravel then the water flows over the ice creating overflow. I have trapped beaver in that scenario and cut through 4 feet of ice to reach water to make a set with snares!
ACTUALLY 3 TYPES.
Deep snow pushes down on slough or pond ice and the snow insulates the water from freezing and driving on nice white fluffy snow and being in deep water and water and lots of snow with cold temperatures without anything to tie off your rope along to presents a ugly remainder of the day!

The 3rd on one mentioned pretty common where weight of snow pushed down on ice, water then flooding under insulating snow. “The Scourge of the North” I have heard it termed. I have been hopelessly stuck more than once. Worst is when you unknowingly hit overflow, and the try running towards shore (less pushdown on ice compared to center) BUT your skidoo sked if filling with heavy slush by the second …. And you are screwed ha . Also dangerous if your boots are not totally waterproof… have had to stop and make a fire - and dry out before heading to cabin

One time for me it was so cold the fire didn’t do much so headed 18 miles to the cabin. Frozen long John’s and insulated Carharts kept me warm but it took a while in front of the wood stove in a setting position to thaw out!

Thank goodness for bunny boots