City Completes Randol Mill Park, Gateway Park and Lower Johnson Creek Pond Dredging Projects
By Nina Sherer, Public Works and Transportation
Posted on November 06, 2020, November 06, 2020

Randol Mill Pond

The Public Works and Transportation Department’s Stormwater Division is proud to announce work to remove excess sediment from the 4.3-acre pond located at the northern end of Randol Mill Park has recently been completed.

This project, which began in September 2019, improved one of the City’s amenities by removing approximately 12,000 cubic yards of sediment, increasing the pond’s water quality, maximizing its storage capacity, and restoring a healthy aquatic habitat for the flora and fauna within the pond system.

The periodic dredging of ponds is vital to their long-term health. The dredging process began by pumping sediment from the pond into two dredging machines. The machines then separated out waste such as sands, silts, and trash. The remaining sediment was pumped to a mixing tank where it was combined with an additive that aids in the sediments clumping together. The sediment is then sent through a centrifuge where the water is separated out of the sediment. The extracted sediment is hauled off to a specialized facility and the water is pumped back into the pond. The replaced water is tested to ensure clarity and that it is not taking waste, toxins, or chemicals back into the pond.

In addition to the Randol Mill Pond, dredging has been completed at Gateway Park in south Arlington and Lower Johnson Pond located near the Esports Stadium Arlington and Expo Center. Dredging at a fourth location, the Lakes at Matlock, is currently under way and anticipated to be completed in summer 2021. City staff is currently conducting field evaluations of all remaining city-owned ponds to prioritize dredging work to be completed over the next few years.

The Randol Mill Pond dredging project, which aligns with the City Council’s priority to Champion Great Neighborhoods, was a collaborative effort between the Public Works and Transportation and Parks and Recreation departments. Funding for the program is provided by Parks Bonds and the project was managed by the Stormwater group.

To learn more about active projects throughout the American visit the Street Tracker web page. Information about the City’s Stormwater Management Program and flood mitigation efforts is available on the Stormwater Management web page.

Champion Great Neighborhoods, Bond Program, Stormwater
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