Swales & Water Retention
Slow it. Spread it. Sink it. Store it.
Hold more winter rain in the landscape so soil and plants have moisture through the dry season.
Slow it
Reduce the speed of water moving across slopes and drives before it can cut and carry soil.
Spread it
Move concentrated flow back into sheet flow across a wider area of ground.
Sink it
Give water time and surface area to infiltrate where soils allow it.
Store it
Hold moisture in soil, organic matter, and — where appropriate — in ponds and basins.
What this looks like on the ground
Depending on the property, this may include contour swales, berms, small check features, careful grading, deep-rooted planting, woody material, or a modest pond.
Why it matters here
Pacific Northwest rain arrives in a concentrated window. Holding some of it in soil and landscape helps a property handle both wet winters and dry summers.
Swales and retention earthworks must be sized and placed for your slopes, soils, and upslope catchment. Poorly placed features can concentrate water rather than calm it, so this work follows assessment — and larger projects may require permitting, engineering, or licensed contractors.
Start with a good-fit call.
Tell us what you're seeing, and we'll help you identify the right next step.