Formation of cascades taking into account abnormal rainfalls and prolonged droughts

Formation of cascades taking into account abnormal rainfalls and prolonged droughts

DREVO Climate Adaptive Cascade System (CACS)

Concept

Climate change leads to two opposite but interrelated phenomena:

increasingly prolonged periods of drought;

short, extreme showers of high intensity.

Traditional water retention structures are typically designed either for average perennial flow or for flood protection. In today's climate, this is insufficient.

DREVO Climate Adaptive Cascade System (CACS)considers the cascade not as a separate structure, but as an adaptive network of distributed elements that is capable of simultaneously:

conserve water as much as possible during dry periods;

safely pass extreme downpours;

prevent erosion;

maintain the nutrition of springs;

restore soil and vegetation.

The main principle:

Each droplet must have several paths: to be retained, absorbed, used by vegetation, or to leave the area safely.

1. Double mode of operation of cascades

Each element is designed for two different scenarios.

Drought mode

Main tasks:

maximum infiltration;

reduction of evaporation;

accumulation of moisture in the soil;

root zone nutrition;

microbiota support.

Workflows:

slow seepage;

filling of soil pores;

accumulation of moisture in biochar and organic matter;

recharge of underground flow.

Abnormal downpour mode

Main tasks:

quickly accept the flow;

reduce water speed;

distribute the flow between elements;

eliminate energy concentration;

prevent slope destruction.

2. The principle of distributed storage

Instead of one large reservoir, thousands of small elements are created.

Each of them is capable of:

take a small amount of water;

gradually pass it down;

fully restore functionality after emptying.

Advantages:

no single point of failure;

minimizing the consequences of local destruction;

ease of repair;

high scalability.

3. Cascade hierarchy

First level

Surface microroughness:

stones;

mosses;

lichens;

mulch;

micro depressions.

The first millimetres of precipitation are delayed.

Second level

Microcascade:

stone lines;

crescents;

landing pockets;

small terraces.

They work during normal rains.

Third level

Infiltration bowls.

They receive water from several microcascades.

Fourth level

Contour depressions.

Redistribute the flow along horizontal lines.

Fifth level

Main drainage basins.

They only work during heavy rainfall.

Sixth level

Emergency channels.

Used exclusively in extreme rainfall conditions.

4. The principle of "cascade overflow"

Each element has:

working volume;

reserve volume;

safe overflow.

When filled, water does not destroy the structure, but automatically moves to the next level.

No element should act as a dam.

5. Working during drought

During the dry season the system:

retains moisture in the soil;

reduces evaporation;

supports mycorrhiza;

nourishes deep roots;

gradually feeds the springs.

Additional elements:

mulch;

biochar;

wood residues;

moss communities;

shading shrubs.

6. Working during abnormal rainfall

During an extreme rainfall event, the system goes through several stages.

Stage 1

Precipitation is intercepted by the crowns of plants.

Stage 2

Some of the water is retained by mosses, litter and microrelief.

Stage 3

Microcascades are filled.

Stage 4

Excess water flows into the infiltration bowls.

Stage 5

After the bowls are filled, the water flows through wide overflows into the contour depressions.

Stage 6

Only when the design volume is exceeded is the flow directed into emergency channels.

7. Protection from destruction

Each overflow must be:

wide;

shallow;

reinforced with stone and vegetation;

designed to handle extreme flow rates.

It is prohibited to use narrow pipes as the only way to discharge water: they easily become clogged and create a concentrated flow.

8. Biological cascades

Each cascade includes several functional zones.

Upper part

Drought-resistant plants.

Middle part

Shrubs.

Bottom part

Moisture-loving herbs.

Overflow

Plants with high tolerance to periodic flooding.

This distribution reduces damage to vegetation when water levels change.

9. Working with snow

Cascades are also used in winter.

Functions:

snow retention;

reduction of wind transfer;

gradual melting;

distribution of melt water;

reducing the risk of ice flows.

10. Working with sediments

During heavy rains, the system must retain:

soil;

organics;

seeds;

wood remains.

For this purpose the following is provided:

sediment traps;

stone filters;

plant barriers.

The accumulated material becomes the basis for the formation of a new fertile layer.

11. Cascades and springs

Slowing down surface runoff increases the likelihood of infiltration, and therefore recharge of groundwater.

Under favorable geological conditions, this can help stabilize or restore the flow of existing springs. However, the extent of the effect depends on the rock structure and hydrogeology of the specific massif, and therefore requires local research.

12. Adaptive control

Living Mountain Observatory monitors:

soil moisture;

water level;

flow rate;

temperature;

precipitation intensity;

wind speed;

vegetation condition.

Based on this dataMountain Digital Twinpredicts:

overflow probability;

need for cleaning;

risk of erosion;

change in bandwidth;

water storage efficiency.

13. The principle of reservation

Each element is designed with a reserve.

It is recommended to provide:

working volume;

reserve volume;

emergency volume.

This increases the system's resilience to events that exceed the design limits.

14. Self-healing

After the rainfall has passed, the cascade should:

maintain the basic structure;

quickly release water;

hold the bulk of the soil;

remain fit for further use;

require minimal repairs.

If necessary, only individual local elements are replaced.

15. Integration with other DREVO systems

Cascades work in conjunction with:

DREVO Mountain Sponge— accumulation and distribution of moisture;

Mountain Springs Recovery— restoration of spring water supply;

DREVO Cloud & Mist System— reduction of evaporation and maintenance of microclimate;

Mountain Forest Corridors— formation of stable plant communities;

Living Mountain Observatory— continuous monitoring;

Mountain Digital Twin— digital modeling and control;

TREVO AeroSense Drone- mapping, erosion control and post-storm inspection.

16. Implementation stages

Stage 1

Analysis of watershed and extreme precipitation scenarios.

Stage 2

Construction of a digital elevation model and calculation of runoff paths.

Stage 3

Design of a network of cascades of different levels.

Stage 4

Creation of a pilot site.

Stage 5

Monitoring the system over several seasons, including periods of drought and heavy rainfall.

Stage 6

Adjustment of the project and scaling to the entire catchment area.

Main advantages

reduction of surface runoff;

reduction of erosion;

increased infiltration;

increasing soil moisture;

support of springs;

reducing the risk of flooding downslope;

increasing the resistance of vegetation to drought;

reducing fire hazard;

restoration of biodiversity;

modular design with high maintainability.

Conclusion

DREVO Climate Adaptive Cascade Systemviews water not as a threat or a discrete resource, but as a continuous cycle. The system is designed to operate equally effectively in two opposing climate conditions—prolonged drought and extreme rainfall.

A distributed network of cascades, adaptive management, and integration with natural processes create a resilient mountain landscape capable of conserving water, protecting soil, and maintaining ecosystem function even in the face of increasing climate instability.