September 22, 2008

Indian Pond Restoration Project

A tranquil green space used by many, Indian pond is more than a shaded spot to escape the stress of campus life. It is actually a critical component of the uptown campus storm water and field irrigation systems, and is in need of restoration and upgrades. This fall marks the start of a multi-year, multi-phased project to restore and enhance the Pond. The first phase involves dredging the pond to restore and improve campus storm and sanitary water systems.

The pond was designed to be a sustainable and environmentally sound means of collecting storm water runoff from selected campus roads, buildings, and parking lots, and help stem outflows to area creeks. The pond is also a source of water to irrigate nearby fields.

The dredging process is needed to restore the pond's 6.6 million-gallon-capacity. Roughly 12,000 cubic yards of silt and sediment, some as thick as seven feet, will be removed from the bottom of the pond in a minimally invasive manner. A diver will guide a screened suctioning tool that removes the material to a dewatering site next to the pond. The dewatering site is sloped in such a way for water to run back into the pond, allowing the sediment to dry and be carted off site for disposal.

The dredging work is expected to continue through late spring 2009. Although the project calls for removal of trees and brush, for a temporary access road, the area will be replanted with additional beautification and upgrades. The paths will be enhanced and better linked to the new leg of Purple Path.

Source: Facilities News, September 2008

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