Government Street Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility ... · approximately 6.75 acre parcel which had become an unused piece of land due to standing water issues (perched groundwater)

Government Street Regional

Stormwater Treatment Facility at Corinne

Jones Park 2018 Recipient of the FSA Excellence Award for Stormwater Projects



Jones Park Background

• The Government Street basin is located within the City’s designated Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) just west of City Hall and near the new Community Maritime Park.

• Many areas of this urbanized watershed were developed before implementation of the 1982 State surface-water rule (Chapter 17-25 FAC) and lacked any means of formal treatment addressing water quality.



Jones Park Background

Corinne Jones Park

Blue Wahoos Stadium

City Hall

Joe Patti’s

Pensacola Bay North


Stormwater Treatment Facility at Corinne Jones Park

Details • Drainage basin = 106 acres which originally

discharged into Pensacola Bay. • Park site was passive and located on an

approximately 6.75 acre parcel which had become an unused piece of land due to standing water issues (perched groundwater) and outdated park amenities in disrepair.

• The antiquated and overtaxed conveyance system and increased impervious areas within the basin caused the area surrounding Government Street to experience localized flooding for years.


Stormwater Treatment Facility at Corinne Jones Park Background

On May 1, 2013, the City, with assistance from Atkins, prepared and submitted a Florida Gulf of Mexico Restoration Project nomination for a regional stormwater pond at Government Street.

The City developed a proposal and forwarded it to DEP, who submitted the project to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), one of the stewards of BP criminal fines.



Project Cost and Funding Mechanisms • In February 2014 NFWF formally granted the City of Pensacola

$2,106,500 to help construct the project. • Additional funding was provided by the City of Pensacola

Stormwater Capital Projects Fund, a funding resource created through the City Stormwater Utility Fee initiated in 2001.

• Final project cost was $3.4 million.



Public Participation • Held two public information meetings • Presented graphics, aerials, and conceptual

drawings • Obtained input and project suggestions from

citizens • Incorporated citizens input into final design



Project Challenges • Promote Community “Buy-in” • Permit as “Regional” Facility • Meet Community Input Objectives • Maximize Function and Aesthetics Within

Budget • Overcome Difficult Environmental Conditions,

High Groundwater Table, and Extreme Rain Events During Construction

• Find Method for Handling Contamination and High Turbidity in Effluent from Dewatering Operations



Community Objectives • Serve as an attractive western gateway to historic downtown

Pensacola

• Help alleviate localized flooding

• Promote economic development opportunities and adds value to the properties within the City’s economically-depressed west side

• Provide an aesthetic amenity for the historic Tanyard neighborhood of Pensacola by including:

a playground, basketball court, walking trails, benches, fountains, extensive landscaping, new LED lighting, bicycle racks, ADA-accessible park, ornamental fencing, and educational signage.



Environmental Objectives • Provide valuable primary and secondary stormwater

treatment

• Reduce nutrients and TSS being discharged directly into Pensacola Bay

• Provide an aesthetically-enhanced wet-detention stormwater facility meeting DEP and NWFWMD permit requirements

• Significantly upgrade the existing conveyance system infrastructure for the area

• Equip the conveyance system with pretreatment units which reduce nutrients and TSS by removing debris and floatables from entering the wet detention pond



Environmental Objectives Cont’d • During data collection it was discovered that a monitored pesticide

contamination plume had higher levels of contamination (lindane -0.14 ug/l) than expected in the groundwater at the project site.

• The contamination source was the former Escambia County Mosquito Control Division, located on an adjacent parcel and the state allowable discharge to surface waters is .046 ug/l.

Corinne Jones Park

Former Escambia

County Mosquito

Control Facility

Government Street Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility at Corinne Jones Park

Environmental Objectives Cont’d

• Remediation of the pesticide contamination plume:

– Dewatering operations during construction resulted in more than 40.1 million gallons of groundwater being filtered and decontaminated, which greatly accelerated the plume cleanup process using Floc-log technology.

– By 2016, the contamination levels had been reduced below the State’s Contaminated Site Cleanup Criteria levels.



Jones Park

Phases of Construction

• Dewatering, Pond Excavation, and Pond Grading



Jones Park

Phases of Construction Cont’d

• Installation of Pond Influent Piping and Structures



Jones Park


• Installation of Pre-Treatment Units



Jones Park


• Installation of Pond Discharge Conveyance



Jones Park


• Reconstruction and Elevation of Government Street

After Before



Jones Park


• Installation of Landscape, Hardscape, and Park Amenities



Jones Park

Pond Data • Water surface- 2.66

acres • Volume- 7.89 million

gallons • Maximum pond depth-

13.5 feet • Normal operational

depth- 10.5 feet • Permanent pool

provides for 14 days of residence time for design stormwater volumes



Before

After



Before

After



Before

After



Project Features • Recreational Pedestrian Walkway Around Entire

Park • Shaded Seating and Rest Areas Centrally Located • Grassed Lawn Area for Passive Activities and

Observation of Pond Flora and Fauna • Heavy-lush Landscape for Natural and Aesthetic

Appeal



Project Features Cont’d • Basketball Court • Playground • Covered Pavilions • Educational Signage



Project Features Cont’d • Site Lighting

• Trash Receptacles

• Pond Fountains

• Ornamental Fencing



Project Accomplishments/Accolades • Exceeds Water Quality and Quantity Objectives For a Regional

Facility

• Mechanism to promote Environmental Awareness and Education

• Destination Recreational Facility for the Public

• Stimulates Socio-Economic development of an underserved area



Socio-Economic Impact

New houses under construction across the street

from Government Street Regional Stormwater

Treatment Facility at Corinne Jones Park





In Summary • The City of Pensacola achieved its

objective of providing a stormwater management facility that eliminated localized flooding, reduced TSS and nutrients from being discharged directly into Pensacola Bay, significantly reducing an existing contamination plume, promoting environmental awareness and education, and developed a neighborhood amenity of which residents can be proud and has already enhanced local development.

Discussion

Documents

Government Street Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility ... · approximately 6.75 acre parcel which had become an unused piece of land due to standing water issues (perched groundwater)