Ways to prepare for or take advantage of the big El Nino this fall?

[Lodestar]

I live in the southern tier of the country where it is predicted to be much wetter than usual this fall.
That was certainly true this spring and so I don't doubt the
fall weather could be a repeat as regards the volume of rain. It broke the drought
in my area and I was kicking myself for not having yet installed a rain collection
system. So that is my current project in preparation for round two of the rains.
I can only imagine how much water I could capture.....
Anyone else have any ideas for how to take advantage of the El Nino conditions
affecting your location?

[truedelphi]

1. California will be in big trouble due to how much

hillside vegetation has been lost to the fires here.

Without proper re-planting of bushes and shrubs as erosion control, there could be record number of landslides and mudslides.

Personally, when at home, I will be glad to see a lot of rain. But probably not when I am on the roads, wondering if the "landslide area" roadside signs mean I could be facing some mountain of mud and rocks coming down on me while in traffic.

[Lodestar]

6. Absolutely. Seems like there is still time to plant and regrade

terrace or berm the landscape before the deluge begins. There are some
plants (and many grasses) that are particularly good at holding the soil.

[Hortensis]

2. Yes, definitely address runoff problems. But encouraging rain to soak into soil right where it falls

is the most effective method of maximizing the water nature provides. One inch of rain falling on a quarter acre is roughly 7,000 gallons of water. Compare that to the 50 gallons a barrel at a downspout can accumulate -- in the barrel. (Obviously this won't be a solution in areas where excess water collection and poor drainage are problems.)

But most property owners can keep at least more rainfall on their property by grading where possible to prevent most of it from running off, encouraging as much rain as possible to soak in where it lands by KEEPING THE SOIL AERATED, canting driveways to direct water to plantings on the sides, building berms or channels across slopes to stop water from continuing downhill, and channeling some inevitable runoff to areas where it can be allowed to soak in more slowly, such as along the perimeter of a lawn (or whatever is covering the ground), which can be planted with plants that appreciate the additional water.

We've created 4 lower areas where roof and lawn runoff (lawn graded almost entirely flat) are directed. When the heavy deluges we're getting these days overtax their capacity, the excess runs off down into our wooded slopes, but a lot more work is needed. Too much heavy runoff is still cutting away at slopes elsewhere.

Of course extensive regrading will be inappropriate and too expensive for many properties with extensive landscaping, but it might well be considered where landscaping that is unable to handle new conditions dies off.

There are books on the subject.

[Lodestar]

4. Thanks! Excellent ideas and explanation. n/t

[roody]

3. I had 3 tanks installed last spring.

One 2500, and 2 slimline 1530s. Rain collected from my roof will be used for laundry and toilet flushing when it is still raining. At end of rains I will save it for summer gardening.
All done with city permit.

[Lodestar]

5. Thumbs up! n/t