Firm plugs pond problem

Garfield Park basin expected to be fully functioning this winter

Mentor officials now have in place what they hope will permanently fix a gap at Garfield Park pond.

Garfield pond dredging contractor C. Crump Excavating on Dec. 21 installed about 400 cubic yards of clay material in an open ditch that had been created to drain the 3 1/2-acre basin. The ditch was filled in following the dredging project last month, but a breach in the embankment caused the newly refilled pond to leak again.

“Compacted clay will be keyed into the bottom and sides of the open ditch at the embankment of the pond to prevent water seepage through the soil,” Mentor Engineer Dave Swiger said.

The remainder of the ditch will also be filled with clay that will be thoroughly compacted to help prevent future washouts. Final

restoration will take place in the spring, which will consist of grading, seeding and mulching of the disturbed areas.

“Weather-permitting, the pond should be fully functional this winter,” he said.

The pond had been drained and under construction since mid-September, when Crump began dredging about 35,000 tons of sediment. This was taken to Springbrook Gardens Park, to enhance the soil there and to provide a pond depth of about 5 feet at Garfield Park, 7967 Mentor Ave.

The $447,588 dredging project was completed Nov. 9, but heavy rains Nov. 17 and 18 caused the pond to overflow its banks on the north side and wash out the refilled drainage ditch.

The city evaluated the situation with CT Consultants to develop a strategy to reinforce the embankment where the ditch was reopened.

“The backfill in the dewatering ditch will be somewhat susceptible to erosion until permanent vegetation is established over the backfill in the spring,” Swiger said.

This additional work by Crump will require a change order to the contract.

“This is a departure from the original plan, so we are expecting an upcharge for the material cost,” Swiger said. “It is expected that the cost for the clay material will be less than $10,000.”

The pond purposely had been drained into Newell Creek for about two months to help dry out the sediment prior to dredging.

The channel was enclosed with a pipe and valve so that the city can lower the water surface of the pond as needed.