living on contour - blockhill...living on contour the art of land shaping for natural rainfall...
TRANSCRIPT
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Living on contourLiving on contourThe art of land shaping for natural rainfall catchment,The art of land shaping for natural rainfall catchment,
a practical guide to water harvesting and managementa practical guide to water harvesting and management
Olmec SinclairOlmec Sinclair
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Deserts are dry and dead, water is the foundation of lifeDesert oasis in Libya
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Here, it's more frequently wet than dry...
Annual rainfall (mm) NIWA datasource
1965
1967
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2015
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Ferniehurst (total bar height) Waipara
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Maximum single day rainfall (based on 1990 – 2014 NIWA data)
Dec – Feb (68-122mm)18%
Mar – May (54-127mm)18%
Jun – Aug (45-227mm)45%
Sept – Nov (34-103mm)18%
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Annual rainfall (based on 1988 – 2015 NIWA data)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2015 = 643mm
2014 = 1098mm
2013 = 1421mm
2012 = 1052mm
2011 = 1015mm
2010 = 1406mm
2009 = 962mm
2008 = 1320mm
2007 = 608mm
2006 = 1094mm
2005 = 893mm
2004 = 983mm
2003 = 1023mm
2002 = 917mm
2001 = 912mm
2000 = 1179mm
1999 = 1307mm
1998 = 592mm
1997 = 1009mm
1996 = 1021mm
1995 = 1382mm
1994 = 1034mm
1993 = 1182mm
1992 = 1200mm
1991 = 1011mm
1990 = 958mm
1989 = 1318mm
1988 = 615mm
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What makes a drought
● Reduced rainfall and hot drying wind. Climate change predicts increasing temperatures, wind speeds and extremes in wet and dry
● Removal of trees and other vegetation reduces soil organic matter and water holding capabilities while increasing moisture evaporation and the chance of erosion
● Compaction of soil by heavy machinery and livestock leads to increased runoff, especially during heavy rain, carries off valuable nutrient and does not recharge local water table
● Frequent cultivation destroys soil water holding capabilities and increases deep compaction
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All technical 'solutions' include● Complexity in knowledge and parts● Upfront and ongoing costs● Wear and tear, damage and maintenance● Obsolescence (old version no longer supported)● Reliance on centralised and distant industrial system
Don't rely on
Technology(It's probably a boondoggle)
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three step drought proofing
November 201536% below average rain since January
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Step 1capture annual rainfall and surface flows
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The primary objectives● Slow water down to reduce erosion
● Spread water out or move from wetter to dryer areas
● Allow water to sink in (infiltrate) to charge the soil / aquifer
● Capture and store rainfall high on the landscape or near large catchment surfaces
● Work with gravity / contour
● Transfer nutrient to desirable locations (animals uphill of plants)
● Increase land surface area with humps and hollows and plants
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The way of the swale
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like a camels humpa swale stores water in times of excess and releases it later
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Contours on topographical map
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Dry ridges, wet valleys
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Spread water along contour toward the ridges
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Although labour intensive to produce, rice is one of the few crops that can be grown repeatedly in the same location
Terracing in Asia Retaining water for rice growing
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Inca settlement in South American Andes
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Example of landscape rehydrationLoess Plateau China
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42.4 degrees south
160 meters elevation
18 kilometres inland
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1000mm average yearly rainfall landing on 1.5 hectares is:● 15,000 cubic meters● 15 million litres● a cube measuring 24 meters along each side
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Calculating rainfall catchment
1) Work out the catchment area (in meters) by multiplying lengths and widths. Remember that the area is as seen from above or plan view, not the actual surface area since pitched roofs have a larger area than a flat surface.
2) Multiple the catchment area by your average annual rainfall, again in meters, to get the yearly cubic meters of rain.
3) Multiply this number by 1000 to get litres
10mm of rain falling on 1 hectare (10,000m2) results in a total of 100m3 of water or 100,000 litres.
That's a cube of 4.6 meters.
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Below: Before (2010)
Right: After (2015)
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Swales at blockhill Swale Overflow Raised wood core
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Slow & spread Water should take a long, meandering course across the landscape
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Sink it seasonal ponds seep water to plantings below while offering habitat
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Overflow pipe in plughole can be pulled out to drain the bath
Animals & swales above plants distribute nutrient & water with gravity
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Where to start
Catch and keep water high on the landscape.
● Keep it simple● Work with gravity as much
as possible
Purify and store drinking water
Down spout from steel roof
First 10 litres or so is flushed to help remove impurities
Concrete tank overflows to top swale
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Rainwater collection For every 1mm of rain, 100 litres goes into the top swale
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Primary swale catches 100 litres per millimetre of rain from house roof plus uphill run off
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Main vegetable garden beds and paths on contour, fed with overflow
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Step 2Improve soil water holding capacity
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Every 1% of organic matter in the soil enables absorbtion of
154,000 litres per hectare
15.4 litres per square meter
15.4mm of rainfall
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natural mulch
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King of the mulch!
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Step 3Increase surface area
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Use surface to catch dew and condensation
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Multiple benefits of treesin no particular order
● Human food and animal fodder● Physical barrier
– Shelter (wind, rain and cold air)– Shade– Living fences
● Moisture– Raise humidity– Huge surface area captures mist and dew– Roots lift water towards the surface and improve soils ability to absorb water
● Soil building and improvement– Leaf litter builds organic matter– Nitrogen (select species)– Concentrations of manure from shade seeking animals and birds
● Soil stabilisation and erosion control● Aesthetics (colourful leaves, flowers etc.)● Cornerstone for biodiversity (habitat for insects, bees, birds...)● Wood for fuel and construction● Perennial (plant once)
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SwaleConstruction
process
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Design considerationsSoil type● Clay – deeper and narrower for slow infiltration and greater water storage● Sand / shingle – shallower and wider due to rapid infiltration and less stable soil
Spacing
Closer in wetter climates, farther apart in drier areas. Consider how they are to be used and accessed.
Link swales together to manage overflow
Overlap swales to catch overflow
Leave gaps for access and navigation and to aid air drainage
Run pathways on contour or slightly pitched to direct overflow
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Swale making tools
● A-Frame for finding level
● Shovel (or spade for steeper terrain)
● Marker pegs
● Hammer
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A-Frame level Construction
This plan results in a device whose feet spacing is 1.5m making it easy to quickly measure the length of pegged out line
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Find and mark contour
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Move soil to the downhill side, level bottom with water
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Mulch and plant
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Increase surface area humps and hollows create more surface & micro climates
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Polish and improve
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Terracing with a mini excavator
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Variations
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Secret Swale
Swale trench can be back filled
with shingle, bark chip etc. to
allow water to infiltrate while
leaving the surface flush with
original ground level.
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Wood filled swales, raised gardens or hugelkultur on contour
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Feb. 2014 April
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Contour earthwork with tractors
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Gallery & inspiration
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Everything drains here, the lowest point
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Summer '14Winter '13
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Oct. 2012
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1 and a half years later
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Another year and a half
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NOW
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15mm in 24 hours
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9 months earlier Blending into the landscape
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Conclusion
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Positives ✔ Low cost, low technology approach to water management and irrigation
✔ Helps build micro-climates through wind protection and cool air drainage that can be exploited for gardening
✔ Segments the landscape in attractive ways
✔ Eliminates erosion and run off
✔ Distributes animal 'nutrient' if present
Considerations ✗ Makes moving large vehicles around difficult if not planned well
✗ Can be difficult to fit amongst existing trees & buildings
✗ Smaller swales can become a tripping hazard if they get obscured by grass
✗ Design overflow to handle water volumes to avoid erosion problems
✗ On steep land start at the bottom and work up as terraces are stabilised with plantings
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Rota takes a bath
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Book your visit to learn about:
● Swales & water harvesting● Food forest gardening● Permaculture thinking & design
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www.blockhill.co.nz