
Landscape Design to Minimize Runoff

Problems caused by runoff include:
- Overall reduction in groundwater recharge
- Long-term lowering of groundwater tables and loss of stream flow during dry weather
- Increased erosion of stream banks
- Water quality impacts caused by pollutants from rooftops, lawns, driveways and streets
- Flooding—especially more frequent “flash” flooding.
There are several techniques useful for minimizing runoff where landscape design is concerned. Most focus on using permeable rather than impermeable hardscapes to allow water penetration, rather than diversion to drains. Harvesting rainwater is a separate approach.
Replacing impermeable asphalt or concrete with:
- Newer permeable concrete
- "Plantable" pavers for driveways and walkways
- Packed crushed rock or packed decomposed granite
- Gravel.
For flagstone, brick or paver patios, setting them in decomposed granite or sand instead of concrete.
Replacing the pavement at the bottom of your driveway with a French drain or grate. This allows water that falls on the bulk of your driveway to soak into the ground instead
of running into street drains.
In renovation or new construction, incorporating drainage as a design element:
- Berms and Vegetated swales
- Rain gardens
- Drywells
- Green roofs.

grass or other plants can direct water to a rain garden or an appropriate area for absorbtion to occur, and since the swale itself slows waterflow and abosrbs water, less of the water that enters a vegetated swale will actually make it to the end.



Harvesting Rainwater
One possibility for both water conservation and runoff reduction is rainwater harvesting for irrigation use. A 1,000 square foot roof can produce more than 600 gallons of runoff for every 1" of rain that falls on it. This can be trickier in our climate, as we get very little rain when it is useful for irrigation (summer) and when we do get rain, there is usually no need for irrigation systems to be running. So the only really useful method involves directing downspouts into a collection system and from there into a fairly large tank for stockpiling rainwater at the end of the rainy season, and using it through the beginning of the dry season—not overly practical for most people. However, even if there is no good irrigation use for the rainwater, diverting the runoff from urban stormdrains, and using one of several simpler methods—drywells at downspouts, or diversion to planted areas—to allow the ground to absorb it is beneficial.
Certainly most home gardeners are not going to employ a host of these methods in regard stormwater runoff, but even one or two implementations—everyone doing a small bit—can make an overall difference over time.