Swales, Chinampas, Terra Preta

Purpose

These interventions slow water, build soil, increase food production, and improve flood dynamics.

Content

Purpose

These interventions slow water, build soil, increase food production, and improve flood dynamics.

When to Use

• When flood capture is the bottleneck
• After contour verification
• When a seasonal pond is stable long enough for chinampa beds
• When biomass waste can become biochar

Best First Action

Start with the smallest reversible pilot: one verified contour swale segment or one pilot chinampa bed.

Best Practices

• Never build swales off-contour.
• Use spillways before extreme rain.
• Inoculate biochar before adding to soil.
• Document material inputs and labor hours.

Common Mistakes

• Raw biochar application that temporarily steals nitrogen.
• Oversized earthworks without overflow planning.
• Chinampa beds too wide to maintain from the canal edge.

Next Steps

• Use Task drawer field steps.
• Attach photos in History.
• Share successful designs via Network.