too wet for swales?

I've tried searching to no avail but..


We get 60" of rain on average n we're flat river bottom with creeks.

So should we fuss with swales at all? Or try something else?

It sounds like you dont have a problem with drought or low water table or not enough rainfall in the growing season, you are doing pretty good.

You could do swales if you have some plants or want to encourage some extra soil life/animal that prefers a slightly drier area that is not the depression of the swale.
A swale could also help you filter the runoff before it hits the creek, top soil, leaf litter, animal manure, fertilizers, worms, idk.
Swales could also help with your flood water management.

Hi Cody, what is your rainfall-drought pattern? if you don't mind, what is your general region? I am in the nw California redwood coast and get from 60"-160", but for 4-6months in the summer we get about 1-3" total.  I have found mulched swales between hugelkulture beds to be a great way to store excess rains in soils. Especially if you can get some runoff from a duck pond or poultry yard, you will fertigate as you moderate flooding.

Far into SETX. Just got at least 8 ft from Harvey in fact.

We reliably get at least 3 inches of rain per month though. Also digging with post hole diggers I can hit what I assume is the water table with the top of the handle flush with the ground.