Thank you for your inquiry. You should probably ask your installer the question you asked me. He should be able to help you. But here is my two cents. It sounds like you have a drop-box set up with the tenches running perpendicular to the slope. It also sounds like the second trench is the damp one. The issue is whether the drainage from the top trench is "leaking" into the soil over the second trench. This could account for the dampness. If this is so, your contractor should be able to advise you and repair the problem. I do not think that the soil should be damp at all. You could dig a hole into the second trench and ensure that the trench is not flooded. If it is not and the dampness does not go very deep, then the problem could be the one I discussed. I know that this may not be much help, so if you would like to call and discuss your situation, I would look forward to it. My toll free number is (888) 352-7226.