I maintained the grade of the roadside swale and added landscaping to solve problems: flooding of the intersection, unauthorized “off-roading” across my front yard, and unauthorized cement laying in my corner. An additional benefit has been free irrigation water in an area where water is very expensive.
Roadside bioswale the day after a major April storm event.
Roadside bioswale During Rainstorm. April 2016
The bioswale performed well during the last storm. All those hours of slugging wet soil with my wheel barrow are paying off. I am now enjoying benefits of free irrigation water in my front yard. Gone are the tire tracks across my front yard and accompanying property damage. In their place are flowers that put smiles on faces.
Tehachepi Rose, Rosa woodsii Lindley 1820 ssp. gratissima (Rosa gratissima Greene 1891) W.H. Lewis & Ertter 2008, Blooming in Swale After April Storm, 2016.
With each storm, a larger area of soil becomes workable with a shovel and rock bar.
Storm Event Softened Soil and Allowed Expansion of Swales and Infiltration Basin. October 2015.
The system of swales and retention basins are now reaching my back yard to water my walnut tree.
Additional Links
Bioswale. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Rain Gardens and Bioswales. Soil Science Society of America. 2016.
Stormwater Standards Manual. City of San Diego. January 20, 2012.
Landscape Plants for California Gardens. Bob Perry, Professor Emeritus. Cal Poly Pomona University.
EPA Pamphlet for Low Impact Design on Clay Soil
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