Dredging project is a big first for pond at Spring Lake Park

Sky Robertson and his two children, Aurora, 3, and Rainan, 2, feed the ducks June 21 at Spring Lake Park in Texarkana, Texas. The city began a dredging process of the pond this month and are relocating the ducks and geese.
Sky Robertson and his two children, Aurora, 3, and Rainan, 2, feed the ducks June 21 at Spring Lake Park in Texarkana, Texas. The city began a dredging process of the pond this month and are relocating the ducks and geese.

The pond at Spring Lake Park is about to be professionally dredged for the first time in its history.

The dredging project, estimated to cost $875,000, will begin in mid-July, city officials said.

"The whole project is unique in that it's never been done before, but it will greatly improve the health of the pond," said Texarkana, Texas, Parks and Recreation Director Robby Robertson.

The city of Texarkana, Texas, will work in conjunction with Tatum Excavating Co. to complete the project.

Funding for the project comes from the city's capital improvement fund, said Lisa Thompson, the city's public information officer.

A timeframe for the project is uncertain, Robertson said.

Dredging will bring the pond to a depth of 10 feet, and the pond will be dewatered to ease the construction efforts. The project also will include the installation of gabion baskets, boxes filled with rocks used in engineering projects, to support and enhance the perimeter of the pond, she said.

Before work begins, efforts to relocate the aquatic life will take place over two to three days, in accordance with state requirements. Crews will use a small boat and shock unit to collect the fish, which then will be identified, measured and recorded.

The fish will be stored in coolers containing pond water before being placed in an aerated holding tank and trucked to a preselected relocation site. Robertson said the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department selected the relocation sites based on their similarity to Spring Lake pond's depth, temperature and other factors to minimize the stress on the fish.

Ducks and geese that remain at the pond during the dredging will be relocated along with the fish, Robertson said.

The current depth in most of the Spring Lake pond is only 2 to 3 feet, Robertson said.

"That's one of the reasons we are dredging it. It's really tough now to control algae and plant life," he said.

He said the new rock shoreline will "dress up" the pond and should stay cleaner and more accessible to visitors.

Park officials are also waiting for information on a grant that will help fund an upgrade to the trail around the pond.

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