Regenerative Landscape: Water Regeneration
Regenerate (to renew/restore/respect)
Keywords: alternative hardscape materials, permeable paving, pervious paving, porous paving, green infrastructure
Regenerative Landscape Design
Let’s review the regenerative landscape base plan again. This landscape design envisioned through a regenerative and greening lens, embraces the vital concept of water infiltration by eliminating any hard surfaces that don’t allow water to infiltrate into the soil and regenerating the natural water systems.
Every added aspect of this design fosters the natural process of water percolating into the soil, thus rejuvenating the hydrological cycle on a larger scale. The absence of impermeable surfaces such as concrete or asphalt ensures that rainwater can freely infiltrate the ground, replenishing groundwater reserves and nourishing the ecosystem.
The landscape showcases a harmonious integration of diverse elements, including permeable pavers, alternative lawns, meadows, and mixed woody shrub hedges, all strategically placed to capture and retain water. This conscious approach not only nurtures the local flora and fauna but also mitigates the negative impacts of stormwater runoff, reducing the strain on urban infrastructure and promoting a balanced and sustainable water cycle. By facilitating water infiltration, this landscape design connects directly to the wider hydrological cycle, contributing to the replenishment of aquifers, the maintenance of stream flows, and the overall health of our precious water resources.
*Note the driveway existed when the residents purchased the property.
The Regenerative Landscape Design
Reflect
Please use the following questions to guide your reflection:
- How can you demonstrate care and respect for water?
- Before working on the land, what will you acknowledge, examine and plan for? As a horticulturalist, how can you nurture your relationship with water?
- Reflect on a landscape of significance to you. Describe the water journey and responsibilities of water. How can you, as a horticulturalist work with this natural process to enhance the ecosystem’s health? How can landscape make a measurable difference in improving water quality and mitigating climate change?
Additional Resources
| Resource Name | Resource Description | Resource Link |
| Water Song: Indigenous Women and Water | The traditional relationship between Indigenous women and water. | https://www.resilience.org/stories/2016-12-12/water-song-indigenous-women-and-water/ |
| Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations | The importance of protecting soil is highlighted by the soil erosion triangle that relates soil and water quality (water depth, water velocity, and water volume). | https://www.ecologyartisans.com/blog/soil-erosion-meadowview-case-study |
| Rain Gardens 101 | The video explains how to install and maintain a rain garden [17 min]. | https://youtu.be/ZHeY6CUAS8s |
| Permeable Pavements | The factsheet provides an overview of design and installation guidelines for pervious pavements. | https://files.cvc.ca/cvc/uploads/2012/02/lid-swm-guide-apdxa-permeable-pavement.pdf |
| Permeable Pavements Factsheet | Permeable pavement maintenance guide. | https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2018/02/Permeable-Pavement-Fact-Sheet.pdf |
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