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[[File:Dry swale.jpg|300 px|thumb|alt=photo of a dry swale|<font size=3>Photo of a dry swale. Courtesy of Limnotech.</font size>]]
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Dry swales, sometimes called grass swales, are similar to <span title="Bioretention, also called rain gardens, is a terrestrial-based (up-land as opposed to wetland) water quality and water quantity control process. Bioretention employs a simplistic, site-integrated design that provides opportunity for runoff infiltration, filtration, storage, and water uptake by vegetation. Bioretention areas are suitable stormwater treatment practices for all land uses, as long as the contributing drainage area is appropriate for the size of the facility. Common bioretention opportunities include landscaping islands, cul-de-sacs, parking lot margins, commercial setbacks, open space, rooftop drainage and street-scapes (i.e., between the curb and sidewalk). Bioretention, when designed with an underdrain and liner, is also a good design option for treating Potential stormwater hotspots. Bioretention is extremely versatile because of its ability to be incorporated into landscaped areas. The versatility of the practice also allows for bioretention areas to be frequently employed as stormwater retrofits."> '''bioretention'''</span> cells but are configured as shallow, linear channels. Dry swales function primarily as a conveyance BMP, but provide treatment of stormwater runoff, particularly when used in tandem with <span title="A check dam is a structure installed perpendicular to flow in a natural or manmade conveyance channel to reduce flow velocity. By slowing flow velocities, check dams can serve multiple functions including reduction of channel scour and erosion, enhancement of sediment trapping, and greater treatment of the water quality control volume via enhanced water detention or retention. Typical check dam materials include rock, earth, wood, and concrete. "> '''check dams'''</span> that temporarily retain water in a series of cells. Dry swales with an <span title="An underground drain or trench with openings through which the water may percolate from the soil or ground above"> '''underdrain'''</span> and <span title="Engineered media is a mixture of sand, fines (silt, clay), and organic matter utilized in stormwater practices, most frequently in bioretention practices. The media is typically designed to have a rapid infiltration rate, attenuate pollutants, and allow for plant growth."> [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Design_criteria_for_bioretention#Materials_specifications_-_filter_media '''engineered soil media''']</span> are considered a <span title="Filtration Best Management Practices (BMPs) treat urban stormwater runoff as it flows through a filtering medium, such as sand or an organic material. They are generally used on small drainage areas (5 acres or less) and are primarily designed for pollutant removal. They are effective at removing total suspended solids (TSS), particulate phosphorus, metals, and most organics. They are less effective for soluble pollutants such as dissolved phosphorus, chloride, and nitrate."> [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Filtration '''filtration''']</span>. Dry swales with in-situ soils capable of <span title="Infiltration Best Management Practices (BMPs) treat urban stormwater runoff as it flows through a filtering medium and into underlying soil, where it may eventually percolate into groundwater. The filtering media is typically coarse-textured and may contain organic material, as in the case of bioinfiltration BMPs."> [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Stormwater_infiltration_Best_Management_Practices '''infiltration''']</span>, ([[Design infiltration rates|A or B soils]]) are considered infiltration practices. Dry swales are designed to prevent standing water. Dry swales typically have [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Plants_for_swales vegetative cover] such as turf or <span title="A species that has been observed in the form of a naturally occurring and self-sustaining population in historical times. Non-natives do not meet this definition."> '''native perennial grasses'''</span>.
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This page provides links to pages that provide information on dry swales.
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[[Category:Level 2 - Best management practices/Structural practices]]
 
[[Category:Level 2 - Best management practices/Structural practices]]

Revision as of 21:26, 7 February 2023

photo of a dry swale
Photo of a dry swale. Courtesy of Limnotech.

Dry swales, sometimes called grass swales, are similar to bioretention cells but are configured as shallow, linear channels. Dry swales function primarily as a conveyance BMP, but provide treatment of stormwater runoff, particularly when used in tandem with check dams that temporarily retain water in a series of cells. Dry swales with an underdrain and engineered soil media are considered a filtration. Dry swales with in-situ soils capable of infiltration, (A or B soils) are considered infiltration practices. Dry swales are designed to prevent standing water. Dry swales typically have vegetative cover such as turf or native perennial grasses.

This page provides links to pages that provide information on dry swales.

Subcategories

This category has only the following subcategory.

Media in category "Level 3 - Best management practices/Structural practices/Dry swale"

The following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total.