Forestville · Water management & land regeneration
Forestville Rainwater & Swale System
Swales, rain garden, and erosion control
The Challenge
Working with the property
Heavy west county winter rains were running off the property, causing erosion and gullying while the land stayed dry through summer. The owners wanted to keep that water on-site and heal the damaged ground.
The Solution
A landscape with a long view
We designed a network of rock-lined swales and a rain garden that intercept runoff, slow it, and let it soak in—recharging soil and groundwater. Erosion-control plantings and regrading stabilized the slopes and restored the land to health.
Planting highlights
- • Native sedges & rushes
- • Riparian shrubs
- • Deep-rooted bunchgrasses
- • Erosion-control groundcovers
Materials & systems
- • Rock-lined swales
- • Rain garden basin
- • Regraded contours
- • Biodegradable erosion fabric
“The erosion that plagued us every winter is gone, and our land holds water far longer into the dry season. It works beautifully and looks natural.”
Related services
Start With The Land
Book your site visit.
Tell us about your property and what you hope it can become. We offer a complimentary half-hour visit for prospective Sonoma County clients.