Pond Project: Dredging nearly done as work progresses at park

Texarkana, Texas, Parks Department employees pick up debris Friday afternoon at Spring Lake Park pond. Dredging of the pond is almost done and
Texarkana, Texas, Parks Department employees pick up debris Friday afternoon at Spring Lake Park pond. Dredging of the pond is almost done and

Dredging the Spring Lake Park pond is days from completion, and then reinforcement of its banks with stone can begin.

Local contractor Tatum Excavating Co. has removed tons of silt from the 5-acre pond's bed since dredging began in July, deepening it from about 2 feet to 10.

"I think now you can tell the reason it took so long is there was a lot of material to move out of that lake to get it to the depth we wanted. The dredging piece of the project was always going to be the most time-consuming," said Robby Robertson, director of the Texarkana, Texas, Parks and Recreation Department.

Robertson declined to speculate when the $875,000, bond-funded project will be completely finished.

Deepening the lake is expected to make it healthier for plant life, aquatic life and wildlife, as well as more aesthetically pleasing.

Once the dredging is completed, TEC will use wire baskets filled with stone, known as gabion baskets, to reinforce the shoreline. A flagstone border around the pond's edge is expected to improve its appearance and approachability.

The final step is to remove a makeshift earthen dam now holding back the spring water that fills the pond. A gasoline-engine pump is continuously moving water from behind the dam into storm drains.

Robertson said he had no idea how long it would take for the pond to refill, but he is hoping for some help from the weather. Whereas the dry summer and fall have made for good digging conditions, a wet winter and spring would help fill the pond quickly.

To comply with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regulations, all the pond's fish had to be collected, identified, measured and recorded prior to its water being pumped out. A subcontractor placed the living fish in aerated tanks and took them to be released into a similar habitat.

The city is in preliminary talks with the Texas Parks and Wildlife about the best way to restock the pond with fish.

"We have already started speaking with them about where we can go as far as making a really nice fishing, recreational lake for our community," Robertson said.

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