What is the function of check dams placed in a swale?

What is the function of check dams placed in a swale?

• A. To prevent erosion and failure of the swale sides
• B. To provide impromptu pedestrian bridges
• C. To localize sedimentation and reduce flow velocity
• D. To indicate location changes in centerline slope

Answer: (C)

Check dams are strategically placed in swales primarily to localize sedimentation and reduce flow velocity. When water flows through a swale, it can carry sediment with it, potentially leading to erosion and degradation of the swale. By implementing check dams, the flow of water is temporarily obstructed, causing it to pool behind the dam. This pooling effect allows sediment to settle out of the water column, effectively capturing it and preventing it from being transported downstream. By reducing the velocity of the flow, check dams also help manage runoff more effectively. Slower-moving water is less erosive, which helps maintain the integrity of the swale and reduces the risk of erosion on the sides and bottom. This function of check dams makes them valuable not only for sediment control but also for enhancing the overall stability and functionality of the swale as part of a stormwater management system.

Check dams are strategically placed in swales primarily to localize sedimentation and reduce flow velocity. When water flows through a swale, it can carry sediment with it, potentially leading to erosion and degradation of the swale. By implementing check dams, the flow of water is temporarily obstructed, causing it to pool behind the dam. This pooling effect allows sediment to settle out of the water column, effectively capturing it and preventing it from being transported downstream.

By reducing the velocity of the flow, check dams also help manage runoff more effectively. Slower-moving water is less erosive, which helps maintain the integrity of the swale and reduces the risk of erosion on the sides and bottom. This function of check dams makes them valuable not only for sediment control but also for enhancing the overall stability and functionality of the swale as part of a stormwater management system.