I live on the west coast of California on a sand dune. We are at the top of one with the road below. Horses just found good homes, so I would like to turn the pasture into swales. Do I think contour and then place swales or do I think of runoff and create ways to control that so it goes deeper into the sand? On this property, the only places with plants are the places with a water source nearby, otherwise there are only weeds. Can I create miniswales to keep water uphill to where I have plantings. Since my governator won't support water retention basins, I think private basins may be the only answer.
