In our Mediterranean climate, rain arrives in concentrated winter bursts and then disappears for months. Designing water systems that capture, slow, and store that rain is one of the highest-leverage things you can do for a property—reducing erosion, recharging groundwater, and carrying your landscape through the dry season.
Swales: slowing and spreading runoff
A swale is a shallow, level channel dug along the contour of a slope. Instead of letting water rush downhill and carry away soil, swales catch runoff, spread it out, and let it soak into the ground—hydrating the landscape below and refilling the water table.
Rain gardens and infiltration
- Direct roof and driveway runoff into planted basins rather than the storm drain.
- Choose plants that tolerate seasonal flooding and summer drought.
- Layer gravel and amended soil for fast infiltration.
Grading that protects soil
Thoughtful grading directs water where you want it and away from structures. Combined with swales and rain gardens, it turns a property’s drainage from a maintenance headache into a resilient, self-sustaining system that gets better with every winter.
