University Boulevard Stormwater Management Pond
March 2006 Update - Dredging of the University Blvd PondsWildlife in and around the stormwater ponds
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University Boulevard Stormwater Management PondMarch 2006 Update - Dredging of the University Blvd PondsWildlife in and around the stormwater ponds |
The original stormwater management pond was built in the late 1970s. The stormwater ponds collect water from 435 acres for the heavily developed Sligo Headwaters portion of the watershed. The stormwater pond was expanded in 1993-4 at a cost of $280,000. The project included a parallel pipe system, wetland marsh, and reforestation. Comprehensive fish and macroinvertabrate sampling of the stream has and will continue to be performed to evaluate "before and after" biological conditions.
In 2005 the Montgomery County Dept. Environmental Protection is expected to start dredging the ponds. It is our desire to be involved with the design of the Project. Some of our goals will be to protect the habitat (native plants and snags that surround the pond) during the dredging operation and include planting native reeds in the pond to help improve water quality.
March 2006 - Dredging of the University Blvd Ponds
The University Blvd Stormwater Management Ponds are currently being dredged. Gene Gopenko, the Senior Engineer with the Stormwater Facility Maintenance Program at Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), expects that 2,400 cubic yards of sediment needs to be dredged out of both ponds. As of March 2006, the dredging of the first pond is nearly complete. A wetland "shelf" is being considered for the second pond. The shelf would be used to plant native reeds obtained from AWS. The reed planting will provide wildlife habitat and help clean up the stormwater runoff. We are hoping that students from Northwood High School’s Environmental Sciences Academy will participate in the project.
The sediment being removed is soil that has eroded over the past several years from homeowner and business properties in the upper portions of the Sligo Creek watershed (roughly in an area that borders Arcola Ave, George Ave. and University Blvd - approximately 435 acres). The dredged sediment is being sent to nearby Evans Parkway Park for a soil enhancement project.
DEP is also planning on trying to correct the flow diversion problem that has created stagnant conditions in the stormwater pond furthest from the path (the pond currently being dredged). Stone works is also scheduled to occur upstream of the ponds.
