Planting the Rain to grow regenerative abundance
by Brad Lancaster www.HarvestingRainwater.com
1. Long and thoughtful observation
Long and thoughtful observation
Zvishavane, Zimbabwe annual precipitation 22 inches (559 mm) Latitude 20Ëš S, altitude 2950 feet (900 meters)
1995 – dry season
Long and thoughtful observation
2016 – wet season
Long and thoughtful observation Mimic healthy and resilient living systems Grow natural resources
2016 – wet season
2.Start at the top of the watershed and work your way down
Start at the top
Start at the top Leaky rock walls / terraces
1995 – dry season
Start at the top Leaky rock walls / terraces
2016 – wet season
Start at the top Leaky rock walls / terraces Change a problem into a solution
2016 – wet season
Start at the top Look at (and work within) the smaller subwatersheds that make up the larger watershed
Start at the top Look at (and work within) the smaller subwatersheds that make up the larger watershed Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions
Self-cleaning drainage ditches and the road surface need to have a slope equal to or greater than the contributing source of sediment. Road grade ranging from 4 to 10% is ideal, with frequent grade reversals or drains (minimum every 60 to 90 meters [200 to 300 feet]). A road that climbs 5 meters (5 feet) elevation in 100 meters (100 feet) length has a 5% slope.
Start at the top Rolling dip diversion berm and spreader drain Water Harvesting from Low-Standard Rural Roads by Bill Zeedyk www.QuiviraCoalition.org
Start at the top Rolling dip diversion berm and spreader drain Change a problem into a solution Every resource serves multiple functions
Start at the top Rolling dip diversion berm and spreader drain
Comanche Creek, NM work by Steve Carson and Bill Zeedyk, www.QuiviraCoalition.org
Start at the top Rolling dip diversion berm and spreader drain Change a problem into a solution Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions
Comanche Creek, NM work by Steve Carson and Bill Zeedyk, www.QuiviraCoalition.org
3. Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden
3. Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden
Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden
Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden
Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden
Start small and simple Infiltration basin / rain garden Mimic healthy and resilient living systems
Start small and simple Infiltration basins / rain gardens
Start small and simple Place every resource for energy efficiency Ensure every resource serves multiple functions Grow natural resources
Start small and simple Greywater harvesting
Start small and simple Greywater harvesting Transform waste into resources Ensure every resource serves multiple functions
Start small and simple Immigration center ephemeral reservoir
1995 – dry season
Start small and simple Immigration center ephemeral reservoir
2016 – wet season
Start small and simple Immigration center ephemeral reservoir Mimic healthy and resilient living systems Place every resource for energy efficiency Ensure every function is supported by multiple resources in the system
2016 – wet season
4. Slow, spread, and infiltrate
Slow, spread, and infiltrate Rainwater tank overflowing to rain garden / terrace
Slow, spread, and infiltrate Rainwater tank overflowing to rain garden / terrace Place every resource for energy efficiency Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions
Slow, spread, and infiltrate Dead level contour Perennial plantings on dead level contour
Slow, spread, and infiltrate Dead level contour Perennial plantings on dead level contour Grow natural resources
Slow, spread, and infiltrate Phiri pits in drainage contour
Slow, spread, and infiltrate Sheet flow spreader
Photo and design credit: Craig Sponholtz, WatershedArtisans.com
Slow, spread, and infiltrate Sheet flow spreader
Photo and design credit: Craig Sponholtz, WatershedArtisans.com
Slow, spread, and infiltrate Check dam
Slow, spread, and infiltrate One-rock high check dam
For more see the Publications Page at www.QuiviraCoalition.org and read all by Bill Zydeek, Van Clothier, and Craig Sponholtz
Work with natural flows and processes
This is not about the structure. It’s about the process begun with the structure placed in relationship with the water and sediment flow.
Slow, spread, and infiltrate Dead level contour Dead level contour cropping
Slow, spread, and infiltrate Dead level contour Dead level contour cropping Grow natural resources Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions Ensure every function is supported by multiple resources in the system
Dead level contours Terraces
5. Always have an overflow and use it as a resource
Always have an overflow and use it as a resource
1995 (winter dry season)
Always have an overflow and use it as a resource Phiri pits / infiltration basins
2014 (summer wet season)
Always have an overflow and use it as a resource Phiri pits / infiltration basins Grow natural resources Transform waste into resources Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions
2014 (summer wet season)
Always have an overflow and use it as a resource Dead level contours / contour swales / contour berm ‘n basins
Always have an overflow and use it as a resource
Speed / \ Depth — Volume
Flowing water’s Erosion Triangle
Always have an overflow and use it as a resource Diversion / drainage swale / contour
Always have an overflow and use it as a resource
Always have an overflow and the use water’s it as a resource Slow, spread, and sink flow Boomerang berms / smile berm
Always have an overflow and use it as a resource Boomerang berms / smile berm
Key elevation relationships of earthworks 1. Bottom of earthwork to top of overflow spillway 2. Top of overflow spillway to top of earthwork 3. Top of earthwork to precious things
Key elevation relationships of earthworks 1. Bottom of earthwork to top of overflow spillway 2. Top of overflow spillway to top of earthwork 3. Top of earthwork to precious things
Key elevation relationships of earthworks 1. Bottom of earthwork to top of overflow spillway 2. Top of overflow spillway to top of earthwork 3. Top of earthwork to precious things
6. Maximize living and organic groundcover
Without mulch
With mulch
Maximize living and organic groundcover Reforestation / re-sponging
Maximize living and organic groundcover Reforestation / re-sponging Mimic healthy and resilient living systems Grow natural resources Change problems into solutions Ensure every resource in the system serves multiple functions
Maximize living and organic groundcover Living mulch
Organic mulch
Maximize living and organic groundcover
Living dead level contour
Maximize living and organic groundcover
Living dead level contour Ensure every function is supported by multiple resources in the system
Maximize living and organic groundcover Rain Garden Zones Bottom, Terrace, & Top
Maximize living and organic groundcover Rain Garden Zones Bottom, Terrace, & Top
Maximize living and organic groundcover Rain Garden Zones Bottom, Terrace, & Top
Maximize living and organic groundcover Rain Garden Zones Bottom, Terrace, & Top
7. Maximize beneficial relationships and efficiency by “stacking functions”
Maximize beneficial relationships Ensure every function is supported by multiple resources in the system
1995
2014
Maximize beneficial relationships Ensure every function supported by multiple resources in the system
1995
Maximize beneficial relationships
2014
Maximize beneficial relationships Ensure every function is supported by multiple resources in the system Grow natural resources Mimic healthy and resilient living systems Place every resource for energy efficiency
2014
Maximize beneficial relationships Ephemeral pond / reservoir
1995 – dry season
Maximize beneficial relationships Ephemeral pond / reservoir
2016 – wet season
Maximize beneficial relationships
Maximize beneficial relationships Change problems into solutions
8. The feedback loop: long and thoughtful observation
www.HarvestingRainwater.com Muonde Trust in Zimbabwe, www.Muonde.org