Project Title: Replace Dennis Pond Drain (FFS #R1GN)

State: Oregon

Project Description: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior, has awarded a $41,912 contract under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Northern Management Services, a maintenance and construction company based in Sandpoint, Idaho. This project is expected to employ three workers.

The company will replace and remove 300 feet of failed 12-inch drain line at Dennis Pond to restore proper function of the storm water retention system and stop erosion of the Dennis wetland slope. Constructed in 1974, the pond captures winter storm water runoff and drainage at refuge headquarters and releases water into the Dennis wetland through an underground 12-inch drain line. A 2001 assessment found the drain line in fair condition, but more recent assessments have found that the entire length of drain line has failed.

“Rehabilitation of this drain pipe will restore filtering functions of a retention pond to protect a large floodplain wetland from sediments and direct storm water runoff,” Tualatin River NWR Manager Ralph Webber said. “This work will directly support the mission of the refuge in the conservation of floodplain wetlands used by thousands of migrating and wintering waterfowl.”

Photos:

Workers lay piping.

Workers seed native grass on recontoured dike.

Originally posted 11/23/2009
Updated 07/22/2010