Water Farming is a practice where stormwater is held for a short period of time and then released after the flooding event has subsided.
A structure is built by constructing a berm or terrace along the edge of a field with an outlet structure designed to temporarily retain runoff water on a cropland field and slowly release it following an extreme rainfall event.
These structures can also be designed to provide a source of water for irrigation during periods of drought.
Below is an illustration of an example of a “Water Farming Practice”.

This practice requires landowners who are willing to allow these structures and associated flooding on their properties.
Contact: Tom Potter, NC Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation, tpotter@ncsoilwater.org