Turning rainfall into an asset
Across Northern California and Northern Nevada, most rain and snow falls in a few months and summers are long and dry. Water that runs off the land in winter is water you do not have in August. Soil Solutions designs and builds water harvesting systems that slow water down, spread it across the land, and sink it into the soil where plants can use it.
Holding water in the landscape also means less erosion, healthier soil, and more resilience in drought.
Swales, ponds, and keyline design
Swales are level-built ditches and berms that follow the contour of the land and let water soak in rather than run off. Ponds store water for livestock, irrigation, wildlife, and fire protection. Keyline design is a way of reading the shape of the land and working with it so water is moved from wetter valleys toward drier ridges, often combined with targeted ripping to open the soil. Rain gardens and smaller features catch runoff from roofs, roads, and paved areas.
Which of these makes sense depends on slope, soil, rainfall, and how you use your land. Some sites call for a single well-placed pond; others benefit from a full system.
Design and build
Because we also handle earthworks, we can take a project from design through construction. Some water work, especially ponds and anything near streams, can require permits from your county or state agencies; we will talk through what may apply on your site. See also our erosion control work. Contact us to start with a site visit.
Getting started
Every project begins with a conversation. Tell us about your land, what you are growing or raising, and what you want to change. From there we usually recommend a site visit and, in most cases, soil testing, so the plan for water harvesting is built on what is actually happening on your ground. You will get clear recommendations and an honest sense of what to do first, what can wait, and how our other services might fit in.
Where we offer water harvesting
We serve Northern California and Northern Nevada, including Reno & Washoe County, NV, Carson City, Douglas & Lyon Counties, NV, Fallon, Churchill County & Elko, NV, Sacramento Valley, CA, Sierra Foothills, CA, Far Northern California, and the North Coast: Sonoma & Mendocino, CA.