Swales as used in permaculture are designed to slow and capture runoff by spreading it horizontally across the landscape (along an elevation contour line), facilitating runoff infiltration into the soil. This type of swale is created by digging a ditch on contour and piling the dirt on the downhill side of the ditch to create a berm . In arid climates , vegetation (existing or planted) along the swale can benefit from the concentration of runoff. Trees and shrubs along the swale can provide shade and mulch which decrease evaporation.
Swales as used in permaculture are designed to slow and capture runoff by spreading it horizontally across the landscape (along an elevation contour line), facilitating runoff infiltration into the soil. This archetypal form of swale is a dug-out, sloped, often grassed or reeded "ditch" or "lull" in the landform. An option is to pile the spoil on to a new bank on the still lower slope. In which case a bund or berm is formed, mitigating the natural (and often hardscape-increased) risks to slopes below and any linked watercourse from flash flooding . In arid and seasonally dry places , vegetation (existing or planted) in the swale benefits heavily from the concentration of runoff. Trees and shrubs along the swale can provide shade and mulch which decrease evaporation.
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type
archetypal form
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created by digging a ditch on contour and piling the dirt on the downhill side of the ditch to create a berm
a dug-out, sloped, often grassed or reeded "ditch" or "lull" in the landform. An option is to pile the spoil on to a new bank on the still lower slope. In which case a bund or berm is formed, mitigating the natural (and often hardscape-increased) risks to slopes below and any linked watercourse from flash flooding
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climates
and seasonally dry places
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along the swale can benefit
in the swale benefits heavily