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Representative ProjectThe Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), a Superfund site, is undergoing a transition from one of the most polluted lands in the United States to an urban wildlife refuge. RMA was recently faced with a number of tough challenges: to manage stormwater from developing areas upstream, reduce downstream flooding, create wildlife habitat, and enhance stormwater quality. WWE designed a water quality wetland pond and other stormwater management components for this site to address all of these issues. During this process, WWE merged and involved a variety of critical entities including public, private, national and local interests. While it is not unusual to design a detention pond to achieve water quality goals, it is uncommon to route water to a Superfund site for water quality and wildlife habitat improvement. Nonetheless, these were the project goals WWE met for the RMA water quality wetland pond project. Several alternatives to the proposed project were analyzed during the environmental assessment completed by WWE and approved by the Department of the Army and the Department of the Interior. Pond design and construction were carefully carried out so as not to disturb existing wildlife such as the federally threatened bald eagle. Pond design included enhancing water quality through pollutant removal while reducing flooding hazards for downgradient entities. In addition to environmental and design engineers, WWE involved wetland and wildlife scientists in the planning process. Pond construction was designed and timed to avoid and minimize impacts to sensitive wildlife species during important events such as the bald eagle nesting period. The project features 1,200 linear feet of wetland channel, which discharges into a wetland pond with a surface area of 5 acres. It was designed to handle 100-year flood flows from a rapidly urbanizing basin upstream. The realization of the project was made possible through the cooperation of public and private entities including the Department of the Army, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, Parkfield, and WWE. The water quality wetland pond has become a valued resource at the RMA, providing outstanding wetland habitat. Bald eagles, pheasants, hawks, foxes and deer are some of the many wildlife species utilizing RMA's water and wetlands. The project met the competing demands of the private developer for a cost-effective project and the federal government for creating a showcase wetland with superior wildlife habitat. |
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