Swales as used in permaculture are designed by permaculturalists to slow and capture runoff by spreading it horizontally across the landscape (along an elevation contour line), facilitating runoff …

Green Infrastructure: Swales can be an important tool for retention and detention of stormwater runoff. Because they utilize vegetation, swales provide additional benefits, including cleaner air, carbon …

Feb 25, 2025 · Swales serve as a first line of defense against stormwater runoff by capturing excess water from hard surfaces. Swales help direct runoff away from vulnerable areas, such as building …

Swales are an essential component of modern stormwater management, providing an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution to runoff control. By slowing, filtering, and absorbing water, swales …

Jul 16, 2025 · Swales capture and transport surface runoff, nourishing plants and reducing erosion. The berms beneath them make great fertile planting beds, and best of all, many swales can be dug by …

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.

Dec 13, 2023 · Learn about the definition, benefits, design, construction, and examples of swales. Discover how they help with stormwater management, erosion control, and water filtration.

Swales are shallow, vegetated channels designed to slow, capture, and infiltrate water runoff. They work by following land contours to intercept flowing water, allowing it to spread evenly across the …

Jul 20, 2025 · Swales are gently sloping drainage ditches that are typically filled with vegetation. Unlike traditional ditches that channel water quickly away from a site, swales are designed to retain and …

The meaning of SWALE is a low-lying or depressed and often wet stretch of land; also : a shallow depression on a golf course.