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New conservation pond under construction in Hobble Creek Canyon

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/south/springville/new-conservation-pond-under-construction-in-hobble-creek-canyon/article_ea37ed18-1786-5280-aa47-1eeae9b3e2d5.html

New conservation pond under construction in Hobble Creek Canyon

Construction has started on a new conservation pond and connection pipelines at the mouth of Hobble Creek Canyon. The area will include a 3.28-acre pond holding secondary water for Springville and a recreation area.

“The pond and park will include a fishing area, a swimming area, playground, restroom, parking lots and green park area. We will have trails to connect to the trail in the canyon and eventually tie into the Bonneville shoreline Trail system.” said Alex Roylance, director of the Springville Buildings and Grounds Department. “The swimming area will have a true beach with sand and a rock-lined shore called Riprap. After dialogue with the Division of Wildlife resources we were able to establish an urban fishery with ADA accessibility so this will be a great water recreation site.”

Roylance continued, “The property was purchased by the city from the Bartholomew family and will be called Wayne Bartholomew Family Park. It’s in an ideal location for recreation and water conservation.”

The large retaining pond and park will be located near an existing small pond at about 2900 E. Canyon Road. Thirty-four acre feet of water will fill the pond in 2015 and the park area will open for the public to enjoy as amenities are completed.

The main purpose of the pond will be to hold water needed for the growing city of Springville as it expands its neighborhoods and commercial district to the west.

“We will be diverting irrigation water shares owned by Springville city early in 2015 to fill the pond,” explained Jeff Anderson, city engineer. “The water will be used for secondary water in the west area of the city. The area west of 400 West will be receiving this water. When we created our city water master plan and evaluated our build out it was obvious we need to supplement our culinary sources.”

Water is a critical element of planning for Utah cities like Springville which are experiencing growth. New subdivisions constructed in the west area of Springville have included additional water pipes in anticipation of the opportunity to use secondary water. The new 36-inch pipeline will follow Riverbottom Road, continue to 900 South, then 700 South, and terminate at 950 West. At that point, the system will connect to pipelines in place.

“We were fortunate to obtain a 9 million dollar grant from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. The grant is a 65 percent, 35 percent split. Our 35 percent match takes into account the pipelines we have already installed and requires minimal additional funds. It’s a huge project with big benefits for our city,” said Anderson.

He concluded, “This will be a great amenity with sustainability. It preserves our culinary water for drinking and allows for irrigation with secondary water.”

Although city officials are pleased with the water supply solution, Springville residents are more excited about having a place to swim and fish and picnic nearby.

“It would be fun to be able to go not too far away from your house to go to a beach,” said Alicia Britt, 11. “My family would use it if I told them about it. We like to go swimming and have picnics.”

Her friend Grant Brimhall agreed enthusiastically, “We would go there. I like to go fishing and would like to go to a cool fishing pond.”