Vegetated Bio-Swale
Designed to handle the flow of stormwater, Vegetated Bio-Swales accomplish the following:
• Vegetated bio-swales slow runoff, which promotes infiltration and removes pollutants from stormwater and results in improved water quality.
• Vegetated bio-swales act like streams during rain events, moving stormwater to a location where it can be stored and infiltrated.
• Infiltration and filtering are much more effective in bio-swales than conventional grass swales or concrete conduits because the deep roots of the native vegetation absorb and filter stormwater more efficiently than grass or concrete.
A vegetated swale typically consists of a band of dense native vegetation, underlain by at least 24 inches of permeable soil.
The permeable soil media should have a minimum infiltration rate of 0.5 inches per hour and contain a high level of organic material to enhance pollutant removal.
A vegetated swale typically consists of a band of dense native vegetation with permeable soil to absorb stormwater and enhance pollutant removal.
The native vegetation can provide habitat for butterflies, birds, and other wildlife that are part of a balanced, biologically diverse ecosystem.
Photo Credit: LandStudies, Inc.
Photo Credit: LandStudies
Photo Credit: Scott Kreider – Courtesy of LandStudies
Photo Credit: Brian West