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Dredging the Wheaton Stormwater Ponds |
The Wheaton 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), says that the ponds were way over due dredging. The sediment nearly filled cell number #1. Mr. Gopenko expects they will remove 3,500 cubic yards of sediment, mostly in cell #1. In addition all those shopping carts that had been dumped in the first pond have been removed. This project will cost $250,000. To save money ($100,000), the county dug a huge trench in the big berm along Dennis Ave. and is putting the sediment in the trench. There is so much sediment, however, the trench will not be big enough. The trench should be re-filled this month. The county will need to stop dredging temporarily until DEP can decide on how to remove the remaining sediment. If you want to see how much sediment is removed before it enters Sligo Creek, come to this site soon. The ponds also collect a LOT of trash.
Mr. Geopenko mentioned that DEP is planning on dredging the University Stormwater Management Ponds, near the Kemp Mill Shopping Center, next fiscal year (after July 2005). DEP is also planning on trying to correct the flow diversion problem that has created stagnant conditions in the cell furthest from the path.
