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| ===Overview=== | | ===Overview=== |
| <p>Swales are linear landscape features consisting of a drainage channel with gently sloping sides. Underground they may be filled with engineered soil and/or contain a water storage layer of coarse gravel material. Two variations on a basic swale are recommended as low impact development strategies, although using a combination design of both may increase the benefits:<br> | | <p>Swales are linear landscape features consisting of a drainage channel with gently sloping sides. Underground they may be filled with engineered soil and/or contain a water storage layer of coarse gravel material. Two variations on a basic swale are recommended as low impact development strategies, although using a combination design of both may increase the benefits:<br> |
| <strong>Bioswales</strong> are sometimes referred to as 'dry swales', 'vegetated swales', 'water quality swales' or 'inline bioretention'. This type of structure is similar to a [[Bioretention cells|bioretention cell]] but with a linear shape (typically >2:1 )<br> | | <strong>Bioswales</strong> are sometimes referred to as 'dry swales', 'vegetated swales', 'water quality swales' or 'inline bioretention'. This type of structure is similar to a [[Bioretention cells|bioretention cell]] but with a long linear shape (surface area typically >2:1 )<br> |
| <strong>Enhanced Grass Swales</strong> are a lower maintenance alternative, but generally have lower stormwater management potential. The enhancement over a basic grass swale is in the addition of check dams to slow surface water flow and create small temporary pools of water which can infiltrate the underlying soil. | | <strong>Enhanced Grass Swales</strong> are a lower maintenance alternative, but generally have lower stormwater management potential. The enhancement over a basic grass swale is in the addition of check dams to slow surface water flow and create small temporary pools of water which can infiltrate the underlying soil. |
| </p> | | </p> |
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| <p><strong>The fundamental components of a swale are:</strong> | | <p><strong>The fundamental components of a swale are:</strong> |
| <ul> | | <ul> |
| <li> graded channel</li> | | <li> Graded channel</li> |
| <li> planting </li> | | <li> Planting </li> |
| </ul> | | </ul> |
| <strong>Additional components may include:</strong> | | <strong>Additional components may include:</strong> |
| <ul> | | <ul> |
| <li>Biomedia - an engineered soil mix</li> | | <li>Biomedia - an engineered soil mix</li> |
| <li>Planting </li>
| |
| <li>Underdrain with clean out and inspection ports</li> | | <li>Underdrain with clean out and inspection ports</li> |
| <li>Impermeable membrane to prevent infiltration to soils below</li> | | <li>Impermeable membrane to prevent infiltration to soils below</li> |