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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 28, 2005 Mulch leaks from a �bio-sock,� or a long mesh tube, as Noel Johnson of Rexius Inc. of Eugene lines one of two ponds at Dutton Road near White City. The ponds have the capacity to hold 8.3 million gallons of water. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell WHEN IT RAINS ... White City ponds will collect, filter residential runoff before it reaches Rogue River By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Bio-socks and eco-blankets are some of the final touches that will dress up a large hole in the ground off Highway 62 in White City. What may look like a big pit is actually two holes that are part of a $2.4 million project to collect runoff and filter it before it flows into the Rogue River. "It’s gotten a lot of attention," said Dave Abbott, project manager for Jackson County Economic and Special Development. He’s even been asked by residents whether the ponds, located just east of the Veterans Administration’s former domiciliary, will be stocked with fish. "This is not a fishing hole," he said. Advertisement In fact, the 5.4 acres of ponds will be fenced in to protect children and to let the plants mature. Long mesh tubes, referred to as bio-socks, and a mulch, called an eco-blanket, will prevent erosion along the slopes of the pond until plants take root. "Once the vegetation is in, it will look pretty good," said Abbott. Most of the runoff water from the residential areas in White City will now flow into the ponds, designed to handle a 50- year flood. They can hold 8.3 million gallons of water. Water will flow through the pond, then into Antelope Creek and finally into the Rogue River. Abbott said the amount of runoff has been increasing because of residential development in White City. Before this winter, there was no way to capture the runoff water, he said. "It just went where it went before this project," said Abbott. About 100,000 yards of dirt were hauled away — some of it to be used as fill for the new Amy’s Kitchen plant in White City. The project, which also includes pipelines and the paving of Wilson Way, is being paid for by Jackson County urban renewal funds. It is being built by LTM Inc. and was designed by Hardey Engineering and Associates Inc. of Medford. After work winds up in early November, engineers will keep an eye on the ponds through the winter to see how well they absorb the runoff. Using the information from their studies, they will install $80,000 worth of plants next fall. Abbott said a temporary sprinkler system will be installed to help the plants survive the hot summer months. Donnie Gunderson, who works for Eugene-based Rexius Inc., was filling up bio-socks with mulch to help prevent erosion around the slopes of the pond on Thursday. "It just helps create a dam," said Gunderson, who explained that the bio-socks will eventually decompose and become part of the topsoil. Another Rexius worker, Brent Bradey, was spraying out compost material made from local yard waste. Seeds in the compost will sprout next spring, producing wild oats, California poppy and lupine. "The recycling part is the neatest thing about this," said Bradey. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail WHEN IT RAINS ... ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s