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Prairie Hills Pond Dredging

November 26, 2024 Update

Herptile relocation for the dredge project is complete. Click on the Prairie Hill Ponds Herptile Capture and Relocation Summary to read the results of this effort. Construction is anticipated to start in December 2024/January 2025.

View past project updates »

Project Details

  • Location

    • Prairie Hills Ponds
      3147 Dorchester Way
      Madison, WI 53713
  • Project Type

  • Status

    Bidding
  • Estimated Schedule

  • Impact

    Minor
  • Alder District

    District 7
  • Contract Number

Prairie Hills Ponds

Project Information

This project addresses short and long term sediment accumulation in the two existing wet retention ponds located at 3147 Dorchester Way.  

Project Overview

These ponds were designed and constructed in the late 1990's.  Since construction these ponds have required several maintenance dredges to remove accumulated sediment, in part due to snow sanding operations.

The wet retention ponds are required as part of the City of Madison’s water quality (MS4 permit) with the EPA/WDNR, which is required under the Clean Water Act. 

This project will include removing existing sediment, installing screen structures upstream on Dorchester Way, McKee Road and Basalt Lane to collect sediment prior to entering the wet retention pond.

Prior to construction, a wildlife biologist relocated existing herptiles to other city ponds to minimize impacts to the herptile populations related to construction.  Click here to read the Prairie Hills Ponds Herptile Capture and Relocation Summary.

Project Limits

The public stormwater outlot pond located at 3417 Dorchester Way.

Project Schedule

Planning, Design, Permitting: April 2024 - December 2024

Estimated Construction: January 2025 - June 2025

Public Involvement

There are a number of points of contact during this project where the public is encouraged to give feedback as part of public information meetings and public hearings. Dates, times and locations are indicated below:

Public Information Meetings

April 25, 2024 Public Information Meeting Recording

If you need an interpreter, translator, materials in alternate formats or other accommodations to access this service, activity or program, please call Sarah Lerner of the Engineering Division at 608-261-8592.

Si necesita un intérprete, un traductor, materiales en formatos alternativos u otros arreglospara acceder a este servicio, actividad o programa, comuníquese inmediatamente al número de teléfono que figura a continuación.

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City Process, Meetings

Common Council: 6/4/2024

Board of Public Works: 5/22/2024

Board of Public Works: 11/20/2024

Common Council: 11/26/2024

Mailings

Start of Construction: Fact Sheet

Project Updates

November 26, 2024 Update

Herptile relocation for the dredge project is complete. Click on the Prairie Hill Ponds Herptile Capture and Relocation Summary to read the results of this effort. Construction is anticipated to start in December 2024/January 2025.

August 21, 2024 Update

Heartland Ecological Services will be performing a frog capture this evening and relocating these frogs to a safe, suitable environment that will not be impacted by winter dredging operations.

August 20, 2024 Update

A wildlife biologist from Heartland Ecological Services will be setting turtle hoop traps today. These are humane traps that will catch turtles and relocate them to another city pond to protect from impacts during winter construction. The wildlife biologist will be checking the traps frequently throughout this process.

August 12, 2024 Update

Due to the single bid in July, this project is being rebid in October. Construction is anticipated to begin in January 2025.  As part of this work, the City has hired a wildlife biologist to relocate existing herptiles to minimize construction impacts during winter months when herptiles may be hibernating. 

July 2, 2024 Update

There was only a single bid on this project and was not opened.  This project will be rebid, but construction will be delayed. Stay tuned for more information. 

June 5, 2024 Update

Plans and specifications for this project are complete, and the project is currently being advertised for bidding.  Anticipated construction will start in August this year and be completed in October this year.

April 29, 2024 Update
March 28, 2024 Update

A public information meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m., April 25, 2024, via Zoom. Registration is required prior.

April 25, 2024 Public Information Meeting Registration

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