Master plan implementation Welch, Minnesota

 When the equipment becomes available, you dig.  Using this small bulldozer with an articulated blade was a very big timesaver for implementation. Eric usually made 3 passes on contour that dugout the swale, formed the berms, and smoothed the uphill slope to a nice arc.

Step 1: using a laser level flag out the contours measured at a consistent distance on the steepest slope.
Step 2: use the PTO tiller to tell 6 feet on either side of the contour.
Step 3: run the bulldozer forming the swales and berms.
Step 4: rake back the peaked berms to a rounded shape.
Step 5: seed the berms and swell with Clover and other cover crops to hold the soil.

Step 6. Mulch with straw and or wood chips on top of the berm.

 On this site the swells were placed 35 feet apart on the steepest slope. This allowed for alley cropping between the berm trees and shrubs. Where the slope was less extreme the swales spread out on contour in a wider pattern.  These spaces are used for additional fruiting shrubs and beneficial habitat.