10 Acre Homestead: Water Harvesting, Erosion Control & Revegetation

Nevada, USA

Erosion control project involving contour swales and native plantings.

Challenge:

To reduce erosion by overland rain-water flow from roadways, and improve hydrological cycling of a brittle site.  Hydrate soils to reduce irrigation needs and improve tree crop production on site.

Solutions:

Road runoff  and overland flow was channeled into contour swales in order to slow it down and reduce bed-load.  Armored  level sill spill-ways connect contour swales in order to reticulate water on site, maximizing residence time.  Rolling dips, zuni bowls, rock mulch rundowns, and media lunas were integrated to mitigate erosion, infiltrate water, and establish vegetation on site.  Native and crop plants flourished with the increased moisture in the soil.

Lead designer: Neil Bertrando.