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In general terms, a swale is a depression in the ground engineered to carry rainwater through gravity to the desired destination. Drainage swales are one of several types of surface drainage systems that slowly filter runoff water as it sinks into the soil while redirected to another location.
Swale (landform) A constructed swale or bioswale built in a residential area to manage stormwater runoff. A swale is a shady spot, or a sunken or marshy place. [1] In US usage in particular, it is a shallow channel with gently sloping sides. Such a swale may be either natural or human-made.
The meaning of SWALE is a low-lying or depressed and often wet stretch of land; also : a shallow depression on a golf course.
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.
Definition of a Swale. A swale is a simple yet effective method of managing stormwater runoff and preventing erosion. It is a shallow, wide, and vegetated channel that is designed to slow down the flow of water, allowing it to infiltrate into the ground and be naturally filtered.
Homeowners make use of swales to control the flow of water in their backyards and other exterior regions of their property. No matter what the specific land use, these drainage systems are natural and self-sustaining and can come with a litany of benefits.
A swale is a shallow ditch or drainage system that gathers surface water and directs it away from areas where you do not want water to collect. It is covered with grass or another type of vegetation or rocks to slow down the water and keep the sediment from the drainage areas.
Swales are trapezoidal channels dug to receive storm-water overflow, with specific vegetation planted to improve aesthetics, filter stormwater runoff, and prevent erosion. (Source: PNNL.) How to Construct a Swale. Do not construct vegetated swales in gravelly and coarse sandy soils that cannot easily support dense vegetation.
Swales serve numerous purposes, from preventing soil erosion to recharging groundwater. By capturing runoff, swales slow the flow of water, allowing it to soak into the soil rather than washing away valuable topsoil or causing waterlogging.
In simple terms, a landscape swale is a gently sloping, vegetated channel designed to manage and direct the flow of water. These swales are typically shallow and wide, serving as both functional and visually appealing components of landscape design.