Is a swale a ditch?

A swale is like a ditch but it’s broad and shallow, and usually covered or lined with turfgrass or other vegetation. The purpose is to slow and control the flow of water to prevent flooding, puddling, and erosion and/or avoid overwhelming the storm drain system.

What is swale used for?

WHAT IS A SWALE? Swales are one of the most commonly used stormwater practices. For many years they have been used along rural highways and residential streets to convey runoff. Today, swales not only convey stormwater but also help to treat runoff to reduce pollutants.

Who is responsible for the swale?

property owner
Who is responsible for this maintenance? As the property owner, you are responsible for all maintenance of your swale. An unmaintained swale may: Stop filtering the rainwater and allow trash and pollutants to enter into our local streams.

What is a swale in a yard?

Swales follow the contours around the base of a natural or created slope, redirecting storm water and filtering runoff as it sinks into the soil, instead of keeping it in one place, like a rain garden. Plants suck up the water along a swale’s gently sloping banks and sometimes down the center of the channel.

What does a swale do to a tree?

Swales are not intended to move water but to hold water for soil absorption. The width of the swale should be covered by the crown of the mature surrounding trees. Soil in the swale should not be compacted or sealed but should be loose to encourage absorption.

Why do we need swales in Southern California?

They rely on gravity to move water and are designed to direct the water where we want it to go. In areas that receive more annual rainfall than we do here in sunny Southern California, swales are considered a more efficient way to capture rainwater than rain barrels.

Where are Swales used in a drainage plan?

Locally, swales can be used for this purpose, but they are more often an integral part of the drainage plan for residential, commercial and municipal properties. More commonly referred to by laypeople as ditches or gutters, swales are often found along sloping driveways, adjacent to roads and parking areas,…

Where are the best places to put Swales?

More commonly referred to by laypeople as ditches or gutters, swales are often found along sloping driveways, adjacent to roads and parking areas, incorporated into golf courses, winding along the contours of hills on farms and in backyards, or along curbs to guide water away from roadways and into storm drains.