Post on 26-Mar-2015
Implementation of Swales at Implementation of Swales at Ithaca College Organic Ithaca College Organic GardenGarden
Chris Gordon, Lauren Krug, Jenny Chris Gordon, Lauren Krug, Jenny MooreMoore
What is a Swale?
A swale is a slight depression that runs with A swale is a slight depression that runs with the contour of the land and is level along its the contour of the land and is level along its length. length.
It can be deep or shallow, or even under It can be deep or shallow, or even under gravel and turned into a path.gravel and turned into a path.
Why Swales?
Great alternative landscaping methodGreat alternative landscaping method
Reduces run-offReduces run-off
Slow it, Spread it, Sink IT!!Slow it, Spread it, Sink IT!!
Slow it, Spread it, Sink it
How Swales Work
Fostering Sustainable Habits
Promoting Sustainable BehaviorsPromoting Sustainable Behaviors
Reaching a Specific Target AudienceReaching a Specific Target Audience
Encountering Barriers and Finding Solutions to Encountering Barriers and Finding Solutions to Get Around themGet Around them
Behaviors Promoted
Capturing run-off water in the ground for use Capturing run-off water in the ground for use instead of following the typical practice of getting instead of following the typical practice of getting the water off-site as soon as possible, to keep it the water off-site as soon as possible, to keep it from eroding landscape and poolingfrom eroding landscape and pooling
In our case, our goal was to slow down and In our case, our goal was to slow down and disperse the water run-off into the garden that was disperse the water run-off into the garden that was causing the ground to be extremely wet a majority causing the ground to be extremely wet a majority of the timeof the time
Non-traditional, sustainable landscapingNon-traditional, sustainable landscaping
Target Audience
Ithaca College Organic GardenIthaca College Organic Garden
Ithaca College Grounds CrewIthaca College Grounds Crew
Ithaca College AdministrationIthaca College Administration
Barriers Encountered
The community outreach portion of our project did The community outreach portion of our project did not go quite as planned due to a small turnout at not go quite as planned due to a small turnout at the workday, despite numerous announcements to the workday, despite numerous announcements to various organizations on campus that would be various organizations on campus that would be interested.interested.
Due to impending winter weather, we were Due to impending winter weather, we were pressed for time to get the swales completed. We pressed for time to get the swales completed. We also experienced heavy rainfall immediately after also experienced heavy rainfall immediately after their creation which caused some repairs to be their creation which caused some repairs to be needed.needed.
Location
IC Organic GardenIC Organic Garden
Why?Why?
Garden is too wet Garden is too wet due to its location due to its location at the bottom of a at the bottom of a hill that catches a hill that catches a lot of run-offlot of run-off
Poor drainage, Poor drainage, does not allow does not allow water to exit area water to exit area easilyeasily
How To…Build a Swale
BasicsBasics
Start at the top of the watershedStart at the top of the watershed
Measure contour linesMeasure contour lines
Stagger the basinsStagger the basins
Bigger rather than smallerBigger rather than smaller
Top of the berm must be level and Top of the berm must be level and compactedcompacted
Basin needs to be level, but do NOT Basin needs to be level, but do NOT compactcompact
SpilwaySpilway
Low point of the bermLow point of the berm
2/3 the height of the berm2/3 the height of the berm
Water Holding Capacity
FormulasFormulas
Area = 1/2 x Width x DepthArea = 1/2 x Width x Depth
Volume of water-holding capacity= Area x LengthVolume of water-holding capacity= Area x Length
Volume = 1/2 x Width x Depth x LengthVolume = 1/2 x Width x Depth x Length
Water Holding Capacity= 3675 inWater Holding Capacity= 3675 in33 = 306.25 ft = 306.25 ft33
SeedingWinter RyeWinter Rye
Anchors the berm to hold it together to prevent
Anchors the berm to hold it together to prevent
erosion erosion
Results•Swales were effective for the most part
•Shovel points to breakage in berm on top swale after first rain storm
•Reinforced with more soil, compacted and planted with winter rye to strengthen berm
View from bottom of garden
View From top of garden
Plans For the Future
Ensuring that the basin is level so the water Ensuring that the basin is level so the water drains properlydrains properly
Further planting of the berms to ensure Further planting of the berms to ensure stabilitystability
Possibly adding two more swales above the Possibly adding two more swales above the existing two swales to regulate run-off more existing two swales to regulate run-off more efficientlyefficiently
Thanks To…
Karryn Olson-RamanujanKarryn Olson-Ramanujan
IC Organic GardenIC Organic Garden
IC Grounds CrewIC Grounds Crew
Brad Lancaster Brad Lancaster
Rainwater Harvesting aka “The Bible”Rainwater Harvesting aka “The Bible”
I Love SWALES!!!