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National
Utility Contractors
Association |
The Associated
General Contractors of
America (AGC) |
Georgia Utility
Contractors
Association, Inc. |
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| Wetlands Restoration and Enhancement |
| Project: | Claiborne Drive Oxidation Pond Retrofit |
| Owner: | Gwinnett County Public Utilities |
| Location: | Gwinnett County, Georgia |
| Engineer: | Black & Veatch |
| Contact: | Brian Lackey |
| Completion: | May 2003 |
| Project Superintendent: | James Fonseca |
| Project Details: |
This project was a 12 acre site in north Gwinnett County. The original use of this site was for oxidation ponds. These ponds had not been used since the mid 1970's. Our contract entailed dewatering the ponds, breaching the dams of the ponds, installing gravity fresh water intake from an adjacent stream, forebay, inlet, and micro pool construction, regrading of the ponds to accommodate "low" water and "high" water areas, extensive erosion control devices and methods, wetlands planting to include aquatic vegetations, stream bank stabilization, gabion baskets, water control structures to include 60" RCP, 12" valves and piping, anti-seep collars and outlet structures, etc. This project was under the jurisdiction of The Storm Water Management Department of Gwinnett County and was considered to be the first major wetlands specific project taken on by Gwinnett County. |
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| The old oxidation pond pier stood sentinal over algae-filled water. |
Overgrown stream banks within the site were covered with three decades of trees and vines. |
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| The landscape within the project is terraformed into meandering channels and small islands, while all around the cental pond area, filtering inlets, spills and other structures, which will progressively clean the water coming into the pond, are built. |
No clear cutting is used; as much of the indigenous vegetation as possible was left in place, contributing to speedy stabilization by keeping root systems in place and allowing vegetation to reproduce undisturbed. |
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| In the upper pond, clear meandering channels planted with selected riparian vegetation replace the algae-filled pond. |
Additional aquatic plants help filter the water further in the lower pond, resulting in excellent water quality and lush natural habitat, all in an urban setting. |
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| One of two major ponds at the site, this body of water is fed through a forebay, a primary cleaning structure, just out of sight on the left. |
This pond forms a horseshoe around a small island covered with riparian vegetation. |
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| Water enters at the right through the just-visible forebay, and when the level rises, filters through the grass ledge into the larger pond beyond. |
A second forebay in another part of the site feeds this second pond, full of clear, pure water, cleansed by bio-friendly processes. |
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| Several years have passed, and the structures at the site, along with its careful plantings and preserved existing vegetation, are stable and functioning, creating not only a pristine habitat but also a place of vibrant beauty. |
This view from the lower end of pond system proves that even urban sites can become durable, well-balanced natural habitats incorporating hard-working purification and cleansing features, and resistent to erosion. |
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