Swales
Swales are the broad shallow channels along, roads, driveways, and parking lots and plays a key role for the City’s Stormwater drainage system.
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Swale Maintenance
The Palm Coast Stormwater & Engineering Department performs ongoing maintenance to regrade swales each year to keep them operating properly. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain their swale and driveway culvert under Municipal Code 24-159. It is important that regular swale maintenance be performed by property owners regularly in order to minimize flooding. Some standing water in a swale is expected.
Swale Related Issues
Reporting a Swale Issue
If you have questions about your swale, or believe that that you are experiencing a swale issue please create a case. Also, please note that no swale inspections are performed five days following a rain event.
Create a Swale CaseHere are some simple, yet significant, steps the property owner should follow for routine swale maintenance:
DO
- Mow and maintain an acceptable grass height in the swale. Tall grass slows water movement.
- Keep driveway culvert ends open by removing debris, grass and dirt. You should blow grass clippings back onto the grass or landscaped areas.
- Repair erosion from along the sides and under your driveway.
- Remove sediment or anything that has built up in the bottom of the swale that could potentially block the flow of water such as trash, leaves, limbs and grass.
- Minimize the use of fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides within 50 feet of a swale.
- Install Plants / landscaping 15-20 feet from the road.
DO NOT
- Fill in your swale or install a drain pipe from property line to property line.
- Have roof drains running onto the driveway or into the right of way.
- Use an edger along the sides of your driveway.
- Park on or drive across your swale as cars and the tire tracks they leave behind can block the flow of water.