Swale (landform)

This article is about the land form. For other uses, see Swale.
A constructed swale or bioswale built in a residential area to manage stormwater runoff

A swale is a shady spot, or a sunken or marshy place.[1] In US usage in particular, it is a shallow channel with gently sloping sides. Such a swale may be either natural or human-made. Artificial swales are often infiltration basins, designed to manage water runoff, filter pollutants, and increase rainwater infiltration.[2] Bioswales are swales that involve the inclusion of plants or vegetation in their construction, specifically.[3]

  1. ^ Chambers Dictionary, Edinburgh, 1998, p. 1668.
  2. ^ "Storm Water Technology Fact Sheet: Vegetated Swales". Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). September 1999. EPA 832-F-99-006.
  3. ^ "Stormwater Best Management Practice: Grassed Swales" (PDF). EPA. December 2021. p. 3. EPA 832-F-21-031P.