TO: Campus Community
FR: J. Dana Twedell, AVP Facilities Management
Over the next three months, Sonoma State University Facilities Management will be completing the North Ponds Rehabilitation Project. This project will involve dredging the two ponds on the north side of campus to remove 60 years worth of sediment buildup and ultimately return the ponds to their original depths of 6 to 8 feet. Once the project is complete, the ponds will better support native aquatic wildlife, enjoy improved water quality, and serve as a reliable secondary source for campus fire suppression.
Project Timeline
- August 11 - Mobilization begins and fencing goes up
- August 20 - Trenching and pipe laying begins
- Early September - Dredging begins East Pond
- Mid-October - Dredging begins West Pond
- Early November - Project Completion
Campus Considerations & Project Impact
Facilities Management will be working with a biologist throughout the project to safely relocate native wildlife from one pond to the other. Fencing will be in place around the perimeter of both ponds throughout the project to help protect and prevent native wildlife from entering the work zone.
The dredged materials from the pond will be temporarily stored on the east side of campus along the Petaluma Hill road fence. During the initial phase of dredging, there is potential for a minor odor in the storage area while the material is damp, but this is expected to dissipate as the material dries. There will be hydraulic pumps running continuously in this zone, which will produce an audible sound in the vicinity, but this is not expected to cause disruption outside the immediate storage area.
There will be slight modifications to pathways and roadways during the project, which include trench plates at select locations. Overall impact to pathways and roadways will be minimal. Please see image below for locations.
We appreciate your patience and support as we complete this infrastructure project. Questions or concerns can be directed to Facilities Management at [email protected] or 707-664-2317.