Case studies for dry swale (grass swale)

We have not yet developed this page to include Minnesota-specific case studies. We anticipate doing this at some point. For now, we have included some case studies for locations outside Minnesota, including brief summaries.

Gene Green Beltway 8 Park - Houston, Texas

A project incorporating bioswales into a local park located east of downtown Houston, Texas. The document describing the project provides a summary of the project, including design, expected pollutant removal, LEED features. Includes detail drawings; soil mixes used; information on underdrains, curbs, and inlets; plant materials; landscaping; maintenance; cost information; photos and schematics. Source: Houston Land Water Sustainability Forum.

North Carolina

This PowerPoint presentation, Low Impact Development in the Transportation Environment: Lessons Learned in North Carolina (Winston, 2014), summarizes several case studies utilizing swales. The focus is on different design options and features and their effect on swale performance. Includes some design information, performance results, and numerous photos, schematics, and other images.

Springfield, Oregon

Three bioswales were constructed at the Lane Transit District (LTD) Springfield Station, Springfield, Oregon. Two swales function as major elements and one as a minor element. This case study provides a minimum of information on design but provides a summary of monitoring conducted at the site. Link.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Biofilters For Stormwater Discharge Pollution Removal - Excerpt from this document: "This document is an attempt to compile the best available information on the design and use of biofilters (bioswales, vegetated filter strips, and constructed wetlands) so that those sites that may have an application of one or the other of these vegetated filtering systems will have information to make the best decision on the design, construction, implementation, and maintenance of these Best Management Practices. It is not a design manual but a practical, based on experience and knowledge of sites that implemented these BMPs, useful information on what works and does not work when designing, constructing, and operating them."

Cornell University

"A bioswale was installed as part of the Nevin Welcome Center building project in 2010. The project, which includes a green roof, and several other sustainable features, received LEED Gold from the U.S. Building Council. The bioswale was designed to slow and clean storm water runoff from the parking lot while providing an attractive garden landscape, which is more ecologically-minded than a traditional storm drain system. The garden is used as a teaching landscape to showcase the benefits and functions of a bioswale garden."

The study report for this project focuses on sustainable features of this project.

• Link to report
• Link to project summary page

Related pages

• Terminology for swales (grass channels)
• Overview for dry swale (grass swale)
• Types of infiltration
• Types of filtration
• Design criteria for dry swale (grass swale)
• Construction specifications for dry swale (grass swale)
• Operation and maintenance of dry swale (grass swale)
• Assessing the performance of dry swale (grass swale)
• Calculating credits for dry swale (grass swale)
• Cost considerations for dry swale (grass swale)
• Case studies for dry swale (grass swale)
• Plants for swales
• Check dams for stormwater swales
• External resources for dry swale (grass swale)
• References for dry swale (grass swale)
• Requirements, recommendations and information for using dry swale (grass swale) without an underdrain in the MIDS calculator
• Requirements, recommendations and information for using dry swale (grass swale) with an underdrain in the MIDS calculator
• Requirements, recommendations and information for using swale side slope as a BMP in the MIDS calculator