#swale

Design ideas for a large traditional partial sun front yard gravel driveway.

Swale, after winning the 1984 Florida Derby

It’s scorching hot and the rains just won’t come. You can use water from your well to keep your plants from dying, but under these conditions the water table could just drop, leaving you high and dry. Then, when the long awaited rain comes, half your topsoil could get washed away in the downpour. So horrible, yet so familiar! Fortunately, there is a really neat technique that makes sure your water will stay on – or rather under – your land, instead of ripping through the surface before flowing away never to be seen again.

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The Behavior of Water

It’s a good idea to take a close look at what water does during a heavy rainstorm. True, most of us don’t enjoy running around under the open sky when it’s raining cats and dogs. But it can be very educational to observe the natural flow of water. It always takes the quickest way down (never up). And depending on the flow, which in turn depends on the amount of water and the ground’s inclination, it can even tear its own way through the landscape. If the ground is fairly dry and without much vegetation, you will even see how a small stream can create a gully – growing into veritable canyons – by carrying sediment with it.

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That sediment may be your valuable topsoil! And fairly soon after the rain stops, it will be gone, along with the stream of water. Where did it all go? Just follow the canyon, and you are likely to find it leading away from your land, towards the lower elevations.

But That’s What Water Does. How Can We Counter It?

Admittedly, we will never change the natural behavior of water. What we can do, however, is use it for our purposes. So if it really always goes downhill, let’s give it a place to go: a ditch dug out on the contour line of a hill, which is known as a swale. And that’s all! Since the swale is on contour, meaning that it’s completely horizontal, the water is not going to go anywhere from there until the swale is full (something we must also prepare for). Now that the water lost its momentum, it’s simply going to sit there, and slowly seep downward into the soil. There it won’t have the speed it normally flows with on the surface, so it can’t carry away any soil. Instead it gradually saturates the ground on the hillside below the swale.

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How to Build Swales

It’s really quite simple: First comes the precision work of measuring out the contour line, followed by the grunt work of digging. You may use machines if your topography allows, or do everything by hand, but in either case, exact measurement is the make-or-break aspect of a swale. There are many different methods for this, ranging from the modest (yet effective) A-frame, to the hose level, all the way to the high-tech laser level.

When you are certain that the line is exactly horizontal, you can start digging the trench. Though it can be smaller, I personally like a bigger swale of about 2’ width and depth. That way it can take up more water, and over time it will be gradually filled with soil anyway. What’s most important when digging the swale is to make sure that the bottom remains exactly on contour! The excavated soil we pile up on the side of the ditch that’s sloping downward. This berm is an ideal place to plant trees into to hold the soil together, to help with water saturation and dispersal, as well as to shade the swale to slow down evaporation. In a great design they will also grow something you can eat.

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There are a couple of things to look out for: For one thing, the swale should never be placed directly above any buildings (gardens are a much better idea). The best place for them is high up on a hill. Also, make sure the slope doesn’t exceed 15 degrees. Both of these are basic safety measures against slides. It’s also important to make sure the bottom of the swale has a decent water saturation, of at least an inch per hour. Finally, one must prepare for record level rainfall, in other words even the best swale will fill up… and then what? The water needs to go somewhere! So have the overflow channeled into a pond, a dam, or any other feature you have installed for water management.

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Okay, so you’ve measured out the contour line, dug a nice big swale, planted trees into the berm, and double-tripple checked that the bottom of your ditch is perfectly level. Great, now you can lean back and wait for the rain! When it comes, get out there again to see how your swale is performing.

Maintenance and Long-Term Effects

After a year or so you can take a look at the swale, preferably when it’s not full of water. You’ll see that  it’s not as deep any more as how you dug it. It has filled up with soil: your topsoil! This is your land, that otherwise would have been carried away to your neighbor, or eventually into the ocean, to be lost forever. But here it is, ready to be dug out and used for planting. Of course once again, it’s important to keep the bottom completely leveled.

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The other effect you are not likely to see immediately, is the water inside, that is under your ground. This is a very gradual process, but the water is going to hang around much longer inside the soil than on the surface. After a while it adds to the water table, and … depending on numerous factors … it will raise it again. There have been many accounts of wells that have been dry for years started having water again, a few years after a swale was built on a nearby hill. But since farming and gardening naturally makes you want to think long-term, this technique will fit right into it.

A body horror/psychological thriller story about trauma and people just being people. You play as a shapeshifter who has been thrown into this world in your early 20s after you learn that your parents didn’t tell you the whole truth about yourself… Work with a team of inhuman and human allies and your older sibling to save the town, or turn against them and help another shapeshifter tear down life as you know it. Game includes a fully customizable player, 13 romance options, 3 possible hookups, and a lot of crying.

Drew: Human, selectable gender, pansexual, same age as MC

You and Drew became best friends when you moved to Wolfwater in high-school. They’re a 6′5 person with dark skin, long dark brown hair, and hazel eyes. They always wear a chocolate leather jacket that they got from their father after his death, jeans, graphic t-shirts, and boots.

Weapon of choice: a silver club.

Interview

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Ezra(they/them): Werewolf, non-binary, male-attracted, 300+ years old, possible poly with Aim for male MCs

Ezra is a reclusive werewolf that’s lived on the Silver Isle most of their life. They’re a 5′0 werewolf with olive colored skin, shaggy, shoulder-length light brown hair, and bright yellow eyes. They tend to not wear either shirts or shoes unless forced. Best friends with Aim.

Weapon of choice: claws/teeth

Interview (Solo)

Interview (Ezra/Aim)

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Aim(he/him): Hybrid, male, pansexual, 250-300 years old, possible poly with Ezra for male MCs

Aim is a cautious hybrid that lives in the swamp to the south of Wolfwater. He is 6′10 with pale gray skin, close-cropped, pure white hair, and irises that are bright yellow with white pupils. He wears a fur lined leather vest, fur lined boots, and leather pants.

Weapon of choice: a handmade bow with silver-tipped arrows

Interview (Solo)

Interview (Ezra/Aim)

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Gliss(they/them): Ice elemental, non-binary, pansexual, 150-200 years old, possible love-triangle with Bayle for female MCs, twin with Bayle

Gliss is an aggressive elemental that lives in the Clearwater Asylum ruins with their twin brother and older half sister. They’re a 6′0 person with dark blue skin, a pale blue mohawk, and solid white eyes. They wear heavy black combat boots, pants, and a tactical vest.

Weapon of choice: a scoped rifle with silver bullets

Interview

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Bayle(he/him): Fire elemental, male, straight, 150-200 years old, possible love-triangle with Gliss for female MCs, twin with Gliss

Bayle is a cocky elemental that lives in the Clearwater Asylum ruins with his twin and older half sister. He’s a 6’0 man with dark pink skin, a shaved head, and solid white eyes. He wears heavy combat pants, boots, and no shirt.

Weapon of choice: himself

Interview

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Lux(she/her): Hybrid, female, straight, 250-300 years old, older half sister to Gliss, Bayle, and [REDACTED]

Lux is a ruthless, mute hybrid that lives in Clearwater Asylum ruins with her younger half siblings. She’s a 5′7 woman with pale, gold skin with shoulder-length platinum-blonde hair, and light blue irises with white pupils. She wears light combat pants, light boots with rubber soles, a tight fur-lined jacket, a carved wooden mask that resembles a fox, and black gloves with rubber on the palms.

Weapon of choice: silver daggers

Interview

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Mewse(they/them): human ghost, non-binary, asexual, panromantic, unknown age, romance only available as poly with Lukas

Mewse is a sarcastic and lazy ghost who haunts the Wolfwater cemetery and church. They’re a 5′5 person with translucent skin, short translucent hair, and eyes that have the barest hint of green in the irises. They wear dark dress pants and a white dress shirt.

Weapon of choice: none

Interview (Solo)

Interview (Lukas/Mewse)

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Lukas(he/him): human, male, pansexual, 28, FWB only unless poly with Mewse

Lukas is carefree, promiscuous, and “technically a preacher” at the Silver’s Bane Church. He’s a 6′1 man with pale skin, short, curly blond hair, and dark blue eyes. He wears a dark gray suit, black dress shoes, a silver cross, and always carries an old, battered bible.

Weapon of choice: an antique, engraved shotgun with silver bullets and holy water

Interview (Solo)

Interview (Lukas/Mewse)

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Seline(any pronouns): Forest guardian, female, pansexual, unknown age

Seline is the friendly guardian of the forest to the north of Wolfwater. She’s a 6’0 woman with tawny skin, waist-length brown hair that is braided with wildflowers, deer-like antlers, very sharp teeth and claws, and her eyes have black scleras and light brown irises. She wears a deerskin dress and no shoes. She travels with a large stag.

Weapon of choice: her magic and a vine whip braided with sharp pieces of bone

Interview

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Bethany(she/her): human, female, gay, 22 years old

Bethany is the rebellious daughter of the mayor of Wolfwater. She’s a 5’7 woman with lightly tanned skin, chest-length red hair, and light blue eyes. She wears expensive dresses and heels.

Weapon of choice: a small handgun with silver bullets

Interview

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Crow(he/him): shapeshifter, male, pansexual, 250-300 years old

Crow is the bloodthirsty and unpredictable [REDACTED]. He’s a 6′3 man with colorless skin, slicked back colorless hair, and eyes that resemble whatever his last shift was. He wears colorful, expensive, designer suits and dress shoes.

Weapon of choice: Dax

Interview

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Dax(any pronouns): human, non-binary genderqueer, pansexual, aromantic, 27 years old

Dax is the dutiful lieutenant to Crow. They’re a 5’6 person with a shaved head, and cloudy green eyes. They wear full body armor, a steel mask, and a hood. Their canines have been replaced with silver fangs and they have silver claws in their gloves.

Weapon of choice: fangs or clawed gloves

Interview

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Kel(he/she/they): demon hybrid, gender fluid, pansexual, 21 years old

A spoiled princess that likes to live in the lap of luxury. Also one of Crow’s closest friends. Beautiful and dangerous, they get what they whatever they want for free with a well timed compliment and a pleasant smile. Crow pays them well, but their...clients pay them better.

Portrait set 1(Crow, Dax, Bethany, Seline, Ezra, Aim)

Portrait set 2(Lukas, Mewse, Drew, Lux, Gliss, Bayle)

Alex: shapeshifter, selectable gender, 12 years older than MC

Alex is your older sibling. They left home when they were 18, you were barely 6 when they stormed out of the house after an argument with your parents. When your parents died in a sudden accident 9 years later, you were sent to live with Alex. You can select your prior relationship with your sibling. Were they your best friend? A complete stranger to you? They love you either way.

Weapon of choice: Knowledge

Interview

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Mayor David Troy(he/him): human?, male, looks to be in his late 30s

Mayor Troy is the unnervingly charming mayor of Wolfwater. His perfectly styled hair and suits always seem a little…too pristine. He also happens to be Bethany’s father. Is his charming smile really as pleasant as it seems?

Weapon of choice: Charisma

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General Brock Day(he/him): human, male, 47

General Day is the intense leader of the military squad sent to hand reports of…supernatural occurrences. He doesn’t care for sob stories or excuses, he just knows that under no circumstances can he allow the secrets of Wolfwater to become known.

Weapon of choice: Assault rifle

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Swale(he/it): siren, male, 200-250 years old, omnisexual, aromantic, possible hookup

A curious and infuriating siren that lives in the icy waters of Wolfwater. He has no allegiances and serves only his own chaotic whims. Too bad you have to rely on him to help you. Even worse, he seems to have taken a shine to you, so you have no choice but to be the one to deal with his eccentric personality.

Weapon of choice: [REDACTED]

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Pandora(she/her): [REDACTED] fae, trans female, 2000+ years old, pansexual, possible hookup

An intimidatingly beautiful fae that runs an inhuman casino. The only rule in her club? Don’t get blood on her rugs. Even outside her den of sin, she remains untouchable. Power and hedonism are the only things that interest her, and she will stop at nothing to get both.

Weapon of choice: [REDACTED]

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Xic(he/they): mixed demon, trans male, 300-400 years old, pansexual, aromantic, possible hookup

A sweet, shy demon that wants to help you as best as he can. He runs an apothecary in town, specializing in curses. Friendly enough, but incredibly defensive about his past. What's behind all those locked doors? What secrets is your new ally guarding so fiercely? And does it have anything to do with why he won't allow any electronics into his store?

Weapon of choice: [REDACTED]

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