Water
Management Services

The first step is understanding where the water is coming from and where it needs to go. Most flooding problems on residential and agricultural properties have one of a few root causes: inadequate site grading that allows water to pool near structures, undersized or blocked drainage infrastructure that can't handle peak flow, water migrating from uphill properties with no interception point, or soil conditions that prevent water from infiltrating fast enough.

A site visit is the best way to diagnose the specific cause on your property. We can walk the site, identify the problem areas, and propose a solution based on the actual conditions — rather than guessing from a description. Call 707-601-9091 to schedule a visit.

It depends on the scope and location of the work. In Sonoma County, any grading that involves more than 50 cubic yards of cut or fill, or exceeds 3 feet in depth, requires a grading permit. Drainage work that involves significant earthmoving — installing a retention basin, major regrading for stormwater management — typically triggers this threshold. Monterey County has a similar requirement at 100 cubic yards.

Some drainage projects — like installing a French drain along an existing structure's foundation — may not require a permit depending on the scope. We can help you determine what's required for your specific project and, where permits are needed, we handle the coordination with the building department as part of the project.

A French drain is a subsurface system — a trench filled with gravel and perforated pipe that collects groundwater or surface water infiltrating into the ground and redirects it via pipe to a discharge point. It works by intercepting water underground and is appropriate where water needs to be collected across a broad area or where a visible surface channel isn't practical.

A swale is a surface feature — a shallow, gently sloped channel in the ground that directs surface runoff along a defined path to a collection or discharge point. Swales work well where there's enough slope to create positive drainage flow and where surface water management is the primary concern. The right choice depends on the specific drainage problem, the soil type, the slope, and where the water needs to end up.

Clay soil has very low permeability — it doesn't absorb water quickly. During a rain event, most of the water runs off the surface rather than soaking in. This means runoff volumes are higher and they arrive faster at low points and collection areas than they would on sandy or loamy soils.

Clay also swells when it gets wet and shrinks when it dries. This movement creates pressure on foundations and buried infrastructure, can crack pipes over time, and causes surfaces to heave. In Sonoma County, where expansive clay is common throughout the wine country terrain, drainage design needs to account for both the runoff volume problem and the soil movement problem. Drainage systems that would perform adequately in other soil types often underperform in clay without appropriate modifications to pipe bedding, trench backfill, and system capacity.

A retention pond is a permanent water feature that holds stormwater runoff for an extended period — sometimes permanently — to reduce peak discharge rates and allow sediment and pollutants to settle before water is released or infiltrates into the ground. A detention basin is similar but designed to hold water temporarily and drain completely between storm events.

Retention ponds are most commonly required on larger development projects where the increase in impervious surface (roofs, pavement, compacted soil) would significantly increase runoff volumes reaching downstream areas. Whether you need one depends on the size of your project, the amount of impervious surface you're adding, and what the local agency's stormwater requirements are for your jurisdiction. We can help you understand what's required for your specific project scope.

Monterey County's grading standards require that drainage plans maintain a minimum 1% slope toward designated discharge points. A 1% slope means the ground falls 1 foot for every 100 feet of horizontal distance — just enough to ensure positive drainage flow under normal conditions.

This requirement exists to prevent water from pooling on graded sites. Flat or improperly graded areas don't drain reliably — even a slight positive slope toward drainage is needed to keep water moving. When we design and execute grading for water management projects in Monterey County, meeting this minimum slope requirement (and often exceeding it where site conditions allow) is a standard part of the work.

Yes. Sediment accumulation in ponds, retention basins, and irrigation ditches reduces their water-holding and water-conveyance capacity over time. Dredging removes accumulated sediment to restore the original design capacity, improve water flow, and in some cases improve water quality and habitat conditions.

The regulatory requirements for dredging depend on the location and scale of the project. Work in or adjacent to waterways, wetlands, or environmentally sensitive areas may require permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, the State Water Resources Control Board, or other agencies. We can help identify what's required for your specific project and coordinate the excavation and sediment management work. Call 707-601-9091 to discuss your situation.

Yes. The Sonoma Resource Conservation District runs a rainwater harvesting rebate program that offers $0.50 per gallon of storage capacity for qualifying installations, up to a maximum of $5,000. The program is designed to encourage property owners to capture roof runoff for later use in irrigation, which reduces both water demand on municipal systems and peak stormwater runoff volumes.

Cistern installation can be incorporated into a broader water management project — particularly when we're already doing site grading or drainage work. For more details on eligibility and the current program status, check the Sonoma Resource Conservation District's website or contact them directly, as program details can change.

Water is the primary driver of foundation problems. Soil that gets saturated loses bearing capacity, which can cause foundation settlement. Clay soils that repeatedly swell with moisture and shrink as they dry create cyclical movement that stresses foundation systems over time. Water that collects against foundation walls creates hydrostatic pressure that can crack and infiltrate concrete. And water that migrates below a slab can undermine it from beneath.

Proper site drainage — grading that moves surface water away from the building perimeter, drainage systems that intercept groundwater before it reaches the foundation, and appropriate moisture barriers — is the most cost-effective foundation protection available. Fixing drainage problems after foundation damage has already occurred is significantly more expensive than addressing them as part of the original site preparation.

Cost varies significantly based on the scope of the problem and the solution required. A basic French drain installation along a foundation is a different project than regrading an agricultural property's field drainage system or excavating a retention basin. Soil conditions, site access, permit requirements, and the volume of material to be moved all affect the price.

We don't publish price ranges because they're not useful without site-specific context. Call 707-601-9091 to describe your situation, and we'll arrange a site visit and provide an accurate estimate based on actual conditions.