SMPIL Consulting

Rebuilding Native Habitat

Home Case Studies Bioswale and Pollinator Garden

Seeing an opportunity to harness the power of nature, a bioswale was built to deal with the issue.

This property previously had a French drain that could not handle the volume of stormwater running downhill. Unfortunately, stormwater would end up backing up into the garage.

The collection channel leads into an infiltration pit. Simply put, a 5ft x 5ft x 4 ft hole was excavated, a layer of gravel was installed, and then the hole was back filled with a mixture of sand and soil. An overflow pipe was also installed for further infiltration downhill.

Finally, native plants were planted along the banks of the garden. As these plants mature, and their root systems become more complex, the bioswale will become more and more effective. As a bonus, this installation doubles as a pollinator garden, and is literally buzzing with activity!