What Is Stormwater Management?
Stormwater management is the practice of controlling where rainwater moves and collects on your property.
After a heavy rain, you may notice water pooling in undesirable areas, collecting near foundations, washing across the landscape, or remaining in areas where it does not properly drain within 24–48 hours. This is where stormwater landscaping can help.
We design landscapes so water moves with intention, directing it toward areas where it can slow down, soak into the soil, or be put to use within the landscape.
The photo to the right (below on mobile) is an example of a beautiful and lush rain garden installed in Chesapeake, VA.
Rather than simply trying to get rainwater off the property as quickly as possible, we look for ways to work with water as a resource while helping protect your home and landscape.
Our Stormwater Solutions
Click each one to learn more.
Rain Gardens
A rain garden is a thoughtfully designed planting area that captures and absorbs rainwater from roofs, driveways, patios, and other hard surfaces.
Instead of allowing stormwater to rush across the landscape and carry pollutants into local waterways, a rain garden slows the flow, filters runoff through healthy soil and plant roots, and allows water to gradually soak into the ground.
For homeowners in Chesapeake and throughout Southeast Virginia, rain gardens are a practical way to manage stormwater while creating beautiful habitat for birds, butterflies, pollinators, and other wildlife.
Click the button below to learn more about rain gardens.
Photo from Town of Carrboro
Vegetated Swales
A planted drainage feature that slows, filters, and manages stormwater naturally.
Vegetated swales are gently sloped, planted channels designed to slow and manage stormwater as it moves through the landscape. Instead of quickly carrying runoff away, a swale uses vegetation, soil, and carefully designed contours to reduce water velocity, capture sediment, and encourage infiltration.
We design vegetated swales to function as part of the landscape, not simply as drainage infrastructure. Native plants help stabilize the soil, support pollinators and wildlife, and create a more natural transition between landscape areas.
How Vegetated Swales Help
Slow stormwater runoff - Gentle slopes and dense vegetation reduce the speed of flowing water.
Filter pollutants and sediment - Plants and soil can help capture sediment and other pollutants before runoff reaches local waterways.
Encourage infiltration - Swales can give stormwater more time to soak into the ground.
Reduce erosion - Deep-rooted vegetation helps stabilize soil and protect drainage channels.
Support biodiversity - Native plants provide habitat and resources for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
Connect landscape areas - A swale can function as an attractive planted corridor rather than an eyesore or conventional drainage ditch.
Good stormwater design doesn't have to look like infrastructure. A vegetated swale can manage runoff while becoming a living part of the landscape.
Dry Creek Beds
A natural-looking way to slow, direct, and manage stormwater runoff.
Dry creek beds are shallow, rock-lined channels designed to safely guide stormwater through the landscape while reducing erosion and allowing water to spread and infiltrate into the soil. They can be especially useful for properties with concentrated runoff, drainage problems, slopes, or areas where water naturally collects.
Our dry creek beds are designed to work with the existing landscape rather than against it. We use thoughtfully selected stone, native and adapted plants, and natural contours to create a drainage feature that looks like an intentional part of the landscape.
How Dry Creek Beds Help
Slow down stormwater - Rock and gentle channel contours reduce the speed of flowing water and help prevent erosion.
Direct runoff - They can safely move water away from structures, paths, and other vulnerable areas.
Encourage infiltration - As water moves through the channel, some can soak into the surrounding soil rather than immediately running off the property.
Reduce erosion - Stabilizing concentrated flow helps protect soil and landscape beds from being washed away.
Create wildlife-friendly habitat - Native plants along the edges can provide food and shelter for birds, pollinators, and other beneficial wildlife.
Add visual interest - Natural stone and plants can turn a drainage challenge into an attractive landscape feature.
Rather than treating stormwater as a problem to simply send away, we design landscapes that slow it down, spread it out, and give the water a chance to return to the soil.
Grading & Drainage
Thoughtful grading can guide water where it belongs, away from structures and toward places where it can safely infiltrate and be absorbed by the landscape.
Proper grading is one of the most important tools for managing stormwater. By carefully shaping the landscape, we can slow, redirect, and distribute runoff while reducing erosion, standing water, and drainage problems.
Rather than relying solely on pipes and conventional drainage systems, we look for opportunities to work with the property's natural topography. Strategic grading can direct water toward rain gardens, vegetated swales, dry creek beds, planted areas, or other locations where stormwater can be managed naturally.
What Grading & Drainage Can Help With
Redirecting runoff away from foundations, patios, walkways, and other structures
Reducing standing water in chronically wet areas
Preventing erosion caused by concentrated water flow
Improving drainage in poorly draining areas
Distributing runoff across planted areas where appropriate
Supporting other stormwater features such as rain gardens and swales
Reducing reliance on hard drainage infrastructure when site conditions allow
Comparison of All Stormwater Management Features
| Feature | What It Does | Best For | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain Gardens | Captures and temporarily holds stormwater, allowing it to infiltrate into the soil. | Runoff from roofs, driveways, and other hard surfaces. | Supports native plants, pollinators, and wildlife while reducing runoff. |
| Dry Creek Beds | Slows and directs concentrated runoff through a natural-looking, stone-lined channel. | Erosion, concentrated water flow, and areas where runoff needs to be redirected. | Reduces erosion and can incorporate native plants for habitat. |
| Vegetated Swales | Slows, filters, and directs stormwater through a gently sloped planted channel. | Drainage corridors and areas with steady or concentrated surface runoff. | Uses vegetation and soil to filter runoff, stabilize soil, and support biodiversity. |
| Grading & Drainage | Shapes the landscape to control the direction and movement of water. | Standing water, poor drainage, erosion, and runoff near structures. | Works with natural topography and can reduce reliance on conventional drainage infrastructure. |
Other Types Of Stormwater Management solutions
Infiltration Areas
Features such as infiltration trenches or gravel-filled basins that temporarily hold runoff below the surface and allow it to gradually absorb into surrounding soil.
Riparian & Shoreline Buffers
Planted buffers along waterways, ponds, ditches, or shorelines that help slow runoff, stabilize soil, capture sediment, and filter pollutants before they reach the water.
Downspout Management
Redirecting roof runoff away from foundations and into gardens, rain gardens, swales, infiltration areas, or other appropriate parts of the landscape.
Permeable Surfaces
Gravel paths, stepping stones, permeable patios, and other surfaces that allow rainfall to infiltrate rather than creating additional runoff.