Completion Form

2018

We first diverted water so that it was no longer flowing into the pond with 8" PVC pipe and a check dam at the inlet. Once water was no longer flowing into the pond we began pumping the pond dry with a large diesel water pump. Unfortunately, we had several large rainstorms and underground springs that continued to fill the pond, so we had to continually be pumping the pond dry with 3" trash pumps everyday. Once we got the pond dry enough to begin excavating we still had to build a cobble path out to the middle of the pond to keep the excavator from sinking. We would drive dump trucks out on this cobble road and load from the excavator. Material was dumped offsite. Once we dug all that we could from the cobble road we began digging ourselves back out including removing the cobble road. We had to do this process three times in order to reach all of the areas of the pond that we wanted to dredge. Once we had removed all the material that we wanted the pond was about 14' deep at it's deepest point. We then started to bring in clay material to line the pond bottom that we found and tested from a nearby construction site.  We brought the material in with dump trucks and spread it and compacted it with an excavator and skidsteer. Once we had covered the entire pond bottom with this clay we began to fill the pond back up. This was completed in September of 2017.  Then Salt Lake City Parks contracted a contractor to do the rock edge, daylight and divert springs into pond, build walk ways and dock, and do all the landscaping. This work was done over the winter of 2017 and spring of 2018.  We the UDWR in May of 2018 then came in and planted wetland sod mats in certain areas along the pond banks and streams. We also purchased bat boxes to be placed on buildings near the pond. The project was completed and the grand opening was on June 28, 2017. We stocked the pond with 600 rainbow trout and we had a large group of kids that we taught how to fish and we also had several t.v. and newspaper reporters there.

This project was designed to improve the water quality and quantity in the Fairmont Pond. In addition to improving water quality and quantity this project is also designed to improve the ecosystem by decreasing the water temperatures so that trout species of fish will better be able to survive and reproduce in the streams. We planted vegetation and placed rock to increase hiding habitat for fish, to increase food, and potentially spawning habitat. The goal was to restore the natural ecosystem that once existed here where several WAP species and other amphibians, fish, bats, and birds will be able to benefit.  Urbanization and all of the related threats have impacted this area greatly from what it was historically. We hoped to be able to restore some of the ecological functions of this habitat for those species that utilize urban areas. 
This project will also provide a cleaner environment for the public and establish a community fishery to allow the public greater opportunity to fish and experience nature within the city. This is a great opportunity to outreach to a portion of the community and help to achieve the new UDWR R3 initiative goals to retain, and recruit sportsman. There are many urban families and kids that frequent the park and creating a community fishery here has allowed for greater opportunity to recruit new fishermen.  Wetland vegetation and rock will provide greater habitat for amphibian species such as frogs and snakes.
Along with water quality issues there are invasions of weed species such as Phragmites that are beginning to choke out the streams in the park. This aggressive plant is a risk of taking over the park and is providing a continual seed source that is flowing downstream and likely reaching the Jordan River.  We will remove this phragmites mechanically and with herbicide where necessary.  This phragmites is also posing a fire risk to the parks large trees and nearby power lines and buildings. The threat of fire from these tall dry plants will be removed from by this project.
This project will also reduce the erosion that is occurring into the streams and pond by stabilizing the banks.  Current erosion is likely occurring from high water events, recreational use, and waterfowl. We will be placing rock and planting vegetation within the inter-spaces of this rock to keep this problem down.  By doing this it will help to increase the water quality. 
In addition to these improvements to the pond and streams we will be planting trees and shrubs in the uplands that will provide cover and food for bird species. The UDWR upland game coordinators are trapping these quail and transplanting them to areas where they are huntable. So by benefiting and increasing this population we will be creating an additional hunting opportunity. We will also be working with the Wild Utah Project to get a few bat boxes installed in the park to increase habitat for the bats that use the park.

Robert Edgel

08/15/2018 08:27:15