Builders Association of Northwestern PA Awards of Excellence
Category: Water Feature Under $25,000
Winner: Dahlkemper Landscape Architects & Contractors

Having a wet backyard with running and sitting water throughout the year makes mowing a difficulty and entertaining nearly impossible, the clients reached out for help. The space was improperly graded allowing storm water runoff to head straight for the house. Old drains were failing and the client wanted a design that was environmentally conscious, aesthetically pleasing, and one that made the water a feature rather then a burden.

Together, we designed a dry stream system that collects the water from the high runoff areas, pooling it to allow sediments to drop and infiltration to occur, and then allows the water to flow under control down the stream, under stone bridges to a proper drainage point that does not burden the next neighbor. This creative dry stream catches the dappled lighting on dry days as well as wet making it a beautiful addition to the landscape as a feature while creatively being a problems’ solution.