Karen,

Be careful using silt from the flooding - it may contain all sorts of chemical/sewage waste depending on what was upstream from you. We live down by the Susquehanna, beside a ravine with a creek, and the flood water was AWFUL, just filthy with household chemicals and pesticides washed from homes and garages, diesel fuel and gas from flooded cars and trucks, and sewage of all kinds. It was appalling, and stank. It got about 10 feet into our back yard, into a mulched play area for our kids by our shed. When the water receded we covered that entire area with landscape fabric and a fresh layer of mulch, so the kids couldn't get directly into the flood residue.

If you live on a rural creek, depending on what's upstream from you, you might be able to use the leftover silt. I guess my advice would be to have a sample of the silt tested by the Cooperative Extension before you use it, so you don't make yourself or your plants sick from it.

Laurel

Ditto on what Laurelin has said about the silt. The stuff is/or can be nasty!! Definetly have it tested before using it. Especially if using it for veggies, herbs, anything you'd be eating.

Laurel - Good idea you had with the landscape fabric and new mulch for the play area.

Thanks, Debbie. I just didn't know what else to do - I couldn't imagine digging out that entire area and putting in new soil. I suppose I could have tossed the dirty mulch over the side of the ravine and remulched, but I was having back problems and the idea didn't occur to me. My husband and a good friend came and did the mulch/fabric for me.

Laurel

Karen, Have the soil tested.While covering with fabric and mulch COVERS the problem it doesn't cure the problem. Any toxin my still leach out polluting wells ect.