Mound Road Sediment Dewatering Facility and Restoration

Strong relationships with the client and agencies, along with prompt action, were vital for the success of this environmental project.

The Town of Delavan hired Batterman to work on the locally important project of improving the water quality of Delavan Lake, which involved dredging three sediment collection ponds and constructing a sediment dewatering facility. These ponds, built in 1992, play a crucial role in trapping, filtering, and retaining sediment and nutrient loadings from approximately 9,482 acres (or 35.6%) of the Delavan Lake watershed. This environmentally sensitive project’s need for multiple permits, stringent requirements, and diligent monitoring presented some challenges. Batterman’s consistent and open communication with the Town, permit agencies, and project team proved essential to completing this project successfully, all while staying within the planned budget.

PROJECT SCOPE

The project involved the design, permitting, and construction management of a sediment dewatering facility, as well as the dredging of three sediment collection ponds along Jackson Creek. It was estimated that a total of 16,200 cubic yards would be dredged and removed from the pond system.

CHALLENGES FACED

Permitting:

• Required multiple permits from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and Walworth County.
• Strict water quality discharge requirements due to contaminants in one of the ponds.

Construction:

• The 2022 dredging season was shortened due to a flooding event.
• Geotextile bag stability issues, including one bag sliding off-site and another bursting.
• Weekly water quality sample collections that required transport to a testing facility in Waukesha.

SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED

Permitting:

• Open communication between the Town, WDNR, and Walworth County ensured all necessary permits were secured.
• Batterman facilitated water quality sampling and worked with WDNR to mitigate contaminant levels when necessary.

Construction:

• Batterman collaborated with the contractor to store equipment and materials on high ground, preventing contamination from flooding.
• Close monitoring of site conditions enabled work to resume promptly once floodwaters receded.
• When a geotextile bag slid off the site, Batterman quickly assessed the situation, confirmed no sediment had escaped, and implemented erosion control measures.
• An immediate response to the bag burst ensured that sediment remained contained within the dewatering facility, with daily monitoring verifying the effectiveness of the erosion controls.

THE FINAL OUTCOME

The dredging and restoration project was completed, with approximately 13,840 cubic yards of sediment removed from the ponds. Despite unexpected delays due to flooding and equipment challenges, the project remained within budget, demonstrating effective planning and adaptability. The Town was satisfied with the results, particularly the responsiveness and expertise displayed throughout the project. Mary Knipper, Town Chair, repeatedly expressed gratitude for Batterman’s dedication and problem-solving approach.

In 2024, the Town hired an excavation and landscaping contractor to open the geotextile bags, remove the bag and liner material from the site, and uniformly spread the collected sediment onsite. The site was then final seeded and restored with a native seed mix.