The draining slope

The problem

Runoff from the upper lawn and the neighbour's driveway crossed the terrace in every heavy rain and left silt at the back door. The slope below was steep enough that nobody walked it.

What we decided

1. Regrade the upper lawn and catch the water in a gravel swale before it reaches the paving
2. Three low dry-stone walls instead of one tall engineered wall, so each step is a planting bed
3. A rain garden at the lowest corner, planted with natives that take wet feet in winter
4. Stone steps through the walls to reach the lower garden

The result

The terrace stays dry through winter storms, the slope is a series of usable beds, and there is a path to the bottom of the garden.

The test was the atmospheric river in November. Water went where the plan said it would, and the back step stayed dry.

Town

Medina

Lot

Sloped lot falling toward the lake

Service

Drainage and sloped lots

Timeline

owner adds

Investment

owner adds range