Site work for the Phase V East Campus villa expansion has begun!

Work in this early stage of the project is focusing on construction of retention ponds, whose purpose during construction is to capture all the runoff and silt that might otherwise go into small tributaries, then to Morgan Creek and eventually into Jordan Lake.

The photos with this update show the first retention pond, also known as “dry detention.” Although they’re referred to as “ponds,” these dry detention areas are usually dry, as the name indicates. There is no standing water and no risk of attracting mosquitoes. The dry detention areas are permanent storm water control devices that don’t stay full of water but are designed to drain within 24 hours in the event of a 100-year rain. The water drains reasonably quickly, but it’s slowed to the point that it doesn’t cause erosion, according to architect Bill Steele. He added that the area is landscaped so that it looks like a natural area when empty.

In addition to the dry detention areas, other means of controlling runoff include limiting hard surface materials such as concrete to minimize permeable surface, and limiting slopes so that the grade itself controls runoff.

Our site contractor built the first pond, then it needed to pass inspection by the county; it passed. The contractor then moved further along the site to begin work on the second pond. Before construction can begin on the new Physical Plant building, which will be located at the far northeast end of the Phase V site, the third retention pond needs to be constructed; that’s expected to happen soon.