The word hydrology was n’t part of my vocabulary until I take off homesteading . I had a shadowy understanding of the water system cycles like rainfall , runoff , reservoirs , water tables , and such . I also got that plants used piss and contributed to precipitation process .
Beyond that , I was clueless . I change state on the tap and water come along . When too much rain fell on my property , it washed into the street gutters and went away . If we had a drouth , I plug in a hose and turned on a sprinkler .
Now , that we live in rural North Carolina without access to public piddle , I ’ve become something of a self - teach hydrology expert ( at least on my own landscape ) . closely everything I do as a homesteader requires understanding and using the rude and human being - made landscape painting hydrology of our property .
Landscape Hydrology
Do you add compost or apply mulch to avail preserve moisture and keep grunge eroding ? Do you have sewer on your house that redirect water either to rain barrels or downslope forth from your menage ? Do you have a crown driveway that forces water to feed off rather than torrent in heavy rainwater ?
These are tools that homesteaders use to bear on the hydrology of our land . So , even if you are n’t using the discussion hydrology in your mundane biography , I bet you are already doing some landscape hydrology management at home .
Landscape hydrology is at play in so many homesteading activities . Things like construction pond , soil development , garden irrigation , harvest rainwater in barrels , swales , and hugelkulturs , save well water system safe , infected and greywater systems , and more are all hydrology related .
Landscape Hydrology and Fire
landscape painting hydrology also plays a decisive role in understate the risk of flak . Good hydrology can limit the equipment casualty if a fire occurs . Plus , even in extreme fire , ideal landscape painting hydrology constitute rectify a landscape painting after a flame easier .
permit ’s take a close look at why landscape hydrology matters when it comes to fire bar , regeneration , and ideas to improve it .
The Sponge Thought Experiment
Have you ever endeavor to set a wet quick study on fervour ? in all probability not . But , just hold that thought for a minute .
A ironic poriferan is extremely flammable . However , moisten it with H2O and it ’s practically impermeable to fire . Now , if you tried to burn it long enough , the heat would eventually dry out out the H2O . Then the sponge would become flammable again .
fortuitously though , this is not how most inadvertent ardour work . They consume the readily uncommitted fuel such as any form of dry out Sir Henry Joseph Wood , firing , paper , 1000 rubble , Natalie Wood ceiling , siding , etc . Then , they move on to more dried stuff and nonsense leaving behind whatever was not so inflammable .
Your landscape is effectively either a dry or wet sponger depending on its hydrology . When it ’s holding lots of water it can be much less permeable to flames . When it ’s dry it can be a fuel source for fast - burn fires .
Tips for Improving Landscape Hydrology
I ca n’t offer specific advice on which of these ideas will work well in your landscape painting . That will bet on factor such as your slope , rainfall patterns , soil composition , water table levels , and more . However , these idea , applied with obedience to your conditions , can make your landscape painting more like a wet sponge to increase your fire security .
1. Keyline Plowing
If you have grassy pasture area on your homestead , then keyline plowing might be a utile technique to capture and hold more water in the root of your grass . Many people also swear this help build up soil and sequester carbon .
The canonical concept is that you utilise a tractor bond called a keyline plow to make mini - trenches just a duet of inches wide-cut and 6 - 8 inch deep . These must be placed at the location of a side where the angle changes from convex to concave .
What happens then is that the H2O is captured in the keylines rather than racing downhill to create erosion problems . There it penetrates deep into the soil and is stored in plant roots for late utilization .
2. Swales
swale are like keylines only wider and deeper . Essentially , they are trenches followed by knoll that capture water , go for it , and then redirect the overflow into another swale .
You also take to make these on form by trace the side of your land . Plus , they do need some maintenance .
Swales tend to gather up lots of leaves , wash down constitutional issue , and manure from upslope . So , they can get boggy if you do n’t from time to time bring in them out in showery areas .
I employ these a great deal in my sloped landscape painting . In the sphere above my bottom where I have a leaping - fed pond , I make a series of swales to catch the piddle before it runs to my pond .
That keep my pool from overflowing during heavy rain . It also allows water to fathom deeply into the root zone of the plants I have produce on the mound areas of the swales .
3. Rain Depressions
Like swales , rain depressions are catchments for supererogatory precipitation . People often locate them on either side of their driveway to beguile the run - off . Alternatively , some multitude use them to compile rain from the gutters of their homes .
Generally , these are great trenches dug into existing soil . Then , they are back - fill with more permeable organic thing like potting grunge , compost , and mulch to create idealistic drain . ultimately , they are filled with a variety of plant that can tolerate sloshed roots and periodic dry conditions .
4. Hügelkulturs
A hügelkultur is an awesome tool to use downed Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and plant debris that might otherwise become a flame hazard . Basically , you bulge out by creating a heap with expectant tree automobile trunk and stumps on the bottom . Then , you layer on woody detritus , then green plant life issue , and in conclusion topsoil to make a raised planting bottom .
The smaller topic cursorily break down into compost . While , the tumid dais and body chunks , at the base , business firm mickle of kingdom Fungi . As the kingdom Fungi digest the wood , it becomes like a sponge to hold water .
Effectively , a well - made hügelkultur is just like adding a slap-up cock-a-hoop , soggy quick study to your landscape .
5. Wetlands
create a wetland area can be beneficial to wildlife and blast prevention . set a wetland strategically between your home and your cracking fire risk zone would be a good way to put this musical theme to utilise .
concord to the USDA , you’re able to create wetlands just about anywhere with some canonic know - how . They also happen to have a niceguideto help you do it .
6. Ponds
Ponds can be the ultimate fire stopper . However , they need to be well - situated and meet certain basic requirement to be useful as a fire prevention creature . Additionally , if you want to practice the water from your pond to crusade a fire , you ’ll need to set up them right .
Pondsgenerally command permits and some hydro - applied science to ensure that they do n’t create problems in your landscape . expert advocate that you talk to your local fire department to obtain out the best ways to apply ponds for fire prevention and fight .
7. Irrigation
There ’s a reason you see hoi polloi hosing down their rooftops when fire risks are high . Soaking flammable Earth’s surface with water system avail reduce the risk that isolated sparks will find oneself fuel to burn .
Having thesesprinklersinstalled that you could aim at your business firm , your deck , and any other flammable areas around your house can facilitate prevent spark fires .
Soil Building For Regeneration
All the above landscape painting hydrology ideas , in good order applied , can help protect your house from fire . However , post - fire , one of the most of import factors in whether a landscape painting regenerates is dirt tone .
Soil that is high in organic topic and well - dampen when the fire come about is more live . Studies have shown that even when the aerofoil of the dirt is scorch , the soil below can still be full of lifetime and ready to regrow quickly .
By take good regular fear of your grease , such as by add compost , mulching , watering , and keep it plant your chances for a rapid recovery are greater .
Erosion Protection Post Fire
As we ’ve seen with all the severe fires around the earth , another big peril mail service - fire is mudslide . If all the vegetation is burned away and rain hits , then moist territory rinse down to lower levels .
That means all that exposed dirt is a microscope slide waiting to happen . If your landscape painting is damaged by fire , you may minimise your risks by taking erosion protection natural action as quickly as potential .
1. Limit Erosion
calculate on the consideration of your soil , you may require to bring in topsoil and replant . Or you may just be capable to imbed a nimble - growing concealment crop until more lasting vegetation grows in .
You may also need to intervene by digging deep or swales to redirect water around area likely to skid .
2. A Side Benefit of Fire
One of the side welfare of a fire is that it may in reality help your dirt bind more water . Similar to using biochar in the garden , all that scorch constitutional matter can quetch up soil life activity and expedite the decomposition of organic matter .
That means your post - fire soil may have even more water supply holding capacity than before . These benefit diminish over time as the charred airfoil wash off off or becomes more acidic from leach .
So , if you want to harness a post - fire burn , get yourself a bulk shipment ofcompost or mulch . give liberally and plant immediately . That traps the char material in topographic point and harnesses its force beneficially in your landscape painting .
Closing Thoughts
Fires are a natural part of our environmental cycles . Still , they can be deadly and destructive .
Take measures to improve your landscape hydrology to limit your risk . Also , use other basic landscape fire risk management and prevention proficiency to maintain your landscape and prevent spark flaming .
Then , if the excretion call comes , leave as promptly and as safely as potential . Staying put during a fire – even when you have ideal hydrology – not only puts you at jeopardy , it peril those brave soul who risk their sprightliness to struggle fervidness and deliver those who ca n’t save themselves .
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