Rainwater from the roofs of Crispell Hall and Lefevre Hall and nearby areas, including the adjacent road and the nearby parking lot, flow into the vegetated swale. Once stormwater enters the swale, the five check dams made of rock slow the flow of the water, reducing the impact of storms in the pond. The retained water slowly soaks into the ground. This improves overall water quality by removing sediments and pollutants such as heavy metals, oil, and grease from the parking lot and road.