Saras’su – A Sustainable lake Ecosystem in a Rain-Fed Farmland by Studio MARC.

Saras’su, meaning ‘lake’ in Telugu Language, is a meticulously designed 2.5-acre waterbody in a 25-acre agricultural site in Andhra Pradesh, India. Previously affected by waterlogging from altered watersheds, heavy calcareous clay soil with poor porosity, and seasonal water scarcity, the rain-fed land struggled to support crop and orchard growth, resulting in stunted development and limited cultivation. The imperative to address these issues – excess water during monsoons, drought in dry seasons, poor soil health, and the need for robust ecosystem services – spurred the creation of Saras’su.

The lake’s design strategically intercepts subsurface drainage, effectively dewatering the soil to promote healthy root development. It also captures surface runoff and monsoon rainwater. Detailed watershed analysis informed the creation of narrow trenches that channel stormwater from the surroundings to silt ponds. These ponds act as crucial sediment traps, ensuring cleaner water enters the main lake. Their shallow edges further contribute to a valuable wetland habitat, enhancing the farm’s overall ecological support system.

The central waterbody features varied depths – deep, medium, and shallow zones – fostering diverse aquatic life. A central island provides a vital refuge and nesting site, while the natural, un-concreted earthen bund edgeline maximizes ecological niches and offers a cost-effective design. To sustainably improve soil health, the barren earthen bund surrounding the lake was thoughtfully planted with nitrogen-fixing legumes.

Recognizing the challenging soil conditions, bund planting was implemented in four strategic phases. Deep-rooted grasses like Vettiver were first introduced to control erosion, aerate the dense clay with their extensive root systems, and build organic matter. Edible groundcovers and creepers followed, providing a living mulch for temperature regulation and weed suppression. Subsequently, nitrogen-fixing legumes, Gliricidia, and Moringa were planted to enrich the soil with essential nutrients, fostering lush vegetation and creating valuable habitat. This gradual approach improved soil structure and humus content, preparing the once-barren land for the establishment of understorey plants, herbaceous layers, and young trees. The plant palette for the bunds predominantly featured native species, ensuring ecological appropriateness.

Saras’su has achieved remarkable success, not only in restoring agricultural productivity but also in creating a vibrant sensory landscape. The site now teems with avifauna, offering captivating sights and sounds of a thriving ecosystem – a stark contrast to its formerly barren state. Beyond its primary function of year-round water retention, Saras’su now supports a rich biodiversity, including numerous bird species, butterflies, dragonflies, fish, turtles, and water snakes.

The organically shaped pond, thoughtfully designed with stepped levels and varying depths, now sustains diverse living systems, each thriving within its specific aquatic zone. The improved soil fertility and consistent water availability have significantly reduced reliance on unpredictable rainfall, enabling the reclamation of previously unusable land for agriculture. The meandering bunds, designed to maximize ecological niches, now also yield seasonal fruits, adding to the site’s productivity and sensorial appeal.

The creation of Saras’su demonstrates the power of landscape design as a vital tool for addressing the challenges of a changing climate. This project serves as a compelling casestudy or perhaps a pionerring example of how thoughtful intervention can build resilience, enhance biodiversity, and foster both ecological health and financial productivity, creating a truly thriving and sensory-rich environment.

• Project typology:

Regenerative Landscape / Resilient Landscape (Rural)

• All landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:

Studio MARC.

• Other credits:

Client: Mr. Girish

• Location of the project

Andhra Pradesh, INDIA