San Pablo: St. Joseph Cemetery

St. Joseph Cemetery, 2560 Church Lane, San Pablo, CA Map

At St. Joseph Cemetery in San Pablo, swales filled with waving grasses intercept runoff and also soften the often difficult experience of visitors. The swales create green islands in what would otherwise be a sea of asphalt.

Below, curb cuts guide parking-lot runoff to the swales. These shallow grassy depressions are graded so that water flows slowly and does not pond. Pollutants adhere to soil and grasses and degrade, while water soaks into soil. As the thumbnails show, raised drains channel high flows to storm drains, preventing overflows and flooding.

Left, detail of curb cut and grapevines that edge property. Right, a swale between the main building and columbarium drains patio and roofs to grapevines.