Speed of the runoff having been arrested by one or several swales, water has nowhere to go but down. It slowly progresses down slope filling inter-particulate voids. It is said that on a sloping land, water on the surface can travel a kilometer in a few minutes, while the same water trapped and sent into the ground, will take a couple of years to travel the same distance, depending of course on the geology of the underground.
The following clip from Geoff Lawton’s video ‘Harvesting Water – The Permaculture Way’, quickly and vividly illustrates how a swale works.
Dear DV,
Don’t know how it may help, but in watershed developments, CCTs need to be done on entire catchment area of watershed to get full effect. So, in your case, is it possible for you to do 1-2 swales on the west side outside of your property? The percolated water will benefit the borewell.
– Kedar
Dear DV, Thanks for the article. It is like a new year eve’s gift.
Dear DV, thanks for such a insight.. I have approached Ringo to check if he can visit my farm and help me in planning.. this is a great help and I badly needed this.
sorry, kedar
i have reset it as ‘public’, a moment ago
-dv
Hello DV,
Can not see the slideshow. Getting message that “This video is private”. How can I see it?
– Kedar
Dear DV
Wishing you and the team at point return a happy and pleasant new year. On reading, how can one not fall in love with swales? If Only a marginal farmer( if I may use that word)be educated in the virtues of swale, that would be more effective than policy makers groping around committees to implement. Thanx a lot for en lighting. chandrakant
Dear DV,
It is amazing how you get the strength to do such wonderful things. Obviously it is your love of nature that is making you do all these things. I wish you all the best for the New Year and may the swales give you all the joy that you wish for. Hats off boss
sarath