You may notice increased activity at the project site in the coming months as the wetland team begins a study to gather important site-specific information. The information collected will guide the design of the park’s layout and wetland ponds. Constructing the study areas will take a few weeks and require the use of heavy equipment, such as excavators, bulldozers and backhoes. Following the construction, the project team will study the site for approximately six to 10 weeks.
The purpose of the study is to determine the rate at which water percolates into the ground at the property. The soil in southeast Alachua County differs across locations, making it important to collect site-specific information for the park’s design. As part of this process, two 1-acre shallow ponds will be constructed in areas that represent the average soil conditions on the property. Water from GRU’s drinking water system will be used to fill these ponds during the study.
The ponds will be filled to a depth of about 1 foot, allowing the underlying soil to become saturated. This phase of the study is expected to last six to eight weeks. Afterward, the ponds will be filled to a depth of 2 feet for seven days to simulate a significant storm similar to a heavy summer downpour or hurricane. The data collected during this phase will provide insight into how the wetland ponds will respond during similar weather conditions.
Once the study is completed, we will drain the ponds and remove the piping and other temporary infrastructure. The wetland team will be on site throughout both the construction and study phases to monitor and record the results.
Once a conceptual layout is developed, the wetland team will hold a public workshop to gather community feedback and input on the park’s design.
For more information, please email southwest_nature_park@gru.com or call the project hotline at (407) 327-6966.