NORTH PARK LAKE:
North Park Lake: located in Hampton, McCandless and Pine Townships, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania – was created by Allegheny County in the 1920’s. The signature piece of this 3,010 acre county park is its lake. North Park Lake is a man-made lake at the confluence of Pine Creek and the North Fork of Pine Creek. When first constructed in 1935, the surface area of North Park Lake was approximately 75 acres and its depth was approximately 24 feet near the dam face. At that time, the watershed surrounding North Park Lake generally consisted of rural agricultural fields, pastures and isolated woodlots.
As the process of uninhibited urbanization progressed outward from the City of Pittsburgh, the landscape began to change. As development around the park continues to progress, forest cover and vegetated riparian buffers along streams are being removed and soils are being disturbed and covered instead by residential and commercial buildings, roads and parking lots.
Uncontrolled surface runoff carrying sediment to the lake from residential and commercial development in the Pine Creek basin in the mid to late 20th Century has resulted in a loss of 12 acres of open water and a loss of about half of the lake’s original depth. Due to enrichment from the excessive runoff, the lake has become eutrophic (low oxygen levels) and has seen an undesired increase in aquatic macrophyte (algae) growth. These factors have not only reduced the size of the original lake but also severely degraded the remaining aquatic habitat. For example, a shallower lake results in warmer water with less oxygen which in turn results in less variety of fish and other aquatic species. If nothing is done to improve the degradation caused by excessive sedimentation, the lake will eventually fill-in completely and become wetlands, and then a meadow. This will result in a loss of open water habitat and the ability to fish in the lake.
For a complete review of this project go here: Welcome to the Pittsburgh District
The project was put out on bid; Charles J. Merlo won the bid by bidding to do the project for four million dollars. Below is the job spec sheet.
Project: North Park Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project - Section 206
USACE - Pittsburgh District
Sponsor: Allegheny County, PA
Total Projected Cost: $16 million
Federal Portion: $5 million - capped
Contracts: Phase I Sediment Removal - Federal Contract
Charles J. Merlo - $4 million base - Includes:
75,000 cy of sediment removal (North Fork Arm)
Diversion Channels, Fish Habitat, Shoreline Plantings
Options for additional 75,000 cy of removal
Site Preparation Contract - Allegheny County
Allison Park Contractors, Inc.
Site preparation, fill management and wetland protection barrier
Phase II Sediment Removal - Allegheny County
Bids opened 5/26/10 Low Bidder - Merlo
165,000 cy of sediment removal (Pine Creek Arm)
Fish Habitat Placement
Options for additional 75,000 cy of removal
Total Sediment Removal - 315,000 cy
Status: Phase I sediment removal ongoing.
35,000 cubic yards of sediment removed as of 7/23/10
Site preparation work completed.
Wildwood Disposal Site near completion.
Project Completion: Work in the lake to be completed and lake allowed to refill in May 2011.
Website: Welcome to the Pittsburgh District
Project Update Sheet
North Park Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project
23-Jul-10
Could this be another, low bid by a private company and then demanding more Tax Dollars to complete the job for which they were hired? Either way it looks like the Company has some expensive repair work before they can finish. Someone better hurry, May 2011 is coming quickly.
North Park Lake: located in Hampton, McCandless and Pine Townships, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania – was created by Allegheny County in the 1920’s. The signature piece of this 3,010 acre county park is its lake. North Park Lake is a man-made lake at the confluence of Pine Creek and the North Fork of Pine Creek. When first constructed in 1935, the surface area of North Park Lake was approximately 75 acres and its depth was approximately 24 feet near the dam face. At that time, the watershed surrounding North Park Lake generally consisted of rural agricultural fields, pastures and isolated woodlots.
As the process of uninhibited urbanization progressed outward from the City of Pittsburgh, the landscape began to change. As development around the park continues to progress, forest cover and vegetated riparian buffers along streams are being removed and soils are being disturbed and covered instead by residential and commercial buildings, roads and parking lots.
Uncontrolled surface runoff carrying sediment to the lake from residential and commercial development in the Pine Creek basin in the mid to late 20th Century has resulted in a loss of 12 acres of open water and a loss of about half of the lake’s original depth. Due to enrichment from the excessive runoff, the lake has become eutrophic (low oxygen levels) and has seen an undesired increase in aquatic macrophyte (algae) growth. These factors have not only reduced the size of the original lake but also severely degraded the remaining aquatic habitat. For example, a shallower lake results in warmer water with less oxygen which in turn results in less variety of fish and other aquatic species. If nothing is done to improve the degradation caused by excessive sedimentation, the lake will eventually fill-in completely and become wetlands, and then a meadow. This will result in a loss of open water habitat and the ability to fish in the lake.
For a complete review of this project go here: Welcome to the Pittsburgh District
The project was put out on bid; Charles J. Merlo won the bid by bidding to do the project for four million dollars. Below is the job spec sheet.
Project: North Park Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project - Section 206
USACE - Pittsburgh District
Sponsor: Allegheny County, PA
Total Projected Cost: $16 million
Federal Portion: $5 million - capped
Contracts: Phase I Sediment Removal - Federal Contract
Charles J. Merlo - $4 million base - Includes:
75,000 cy of sediment removal (North Fork Arm)
Diversion Channels, Fish Habitat, Shoreline Plantings
Options for additional 75,000 cy of removal
Site Preparation Contract - Allegheny County
Allison Park Contractors, Inc.
Site preparation, fill management and wetland protection barrier
Phase II Sediment Removal - Allegheny County
Bids opened 5/26/10 Low Bidder - Merlo
165,000 cy of sediment removal (Pine Creek Arm)
Fish Habitat Placement
Options for additional 75,000 cy of removal
Total Sediment Removal - 315,000 cy
Status: Phase I sediment removal ongoing.
35,000 cubic yards of sediment removed as of 7/23/10
Site preparation work completed.
Wildwood Disposal Site near completion.
Project Completion: Work in the lake to be completed and lake allowed to refill in May 2011.
Website: Welcome to the Pittsburgh District
Project Update Sheet
North Park Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project
23-Jul-10
Could this be another, low bid by a private company and then demanding more Tax Dollars to complete the job for which they were hired? Either way it looks like the Company has some expensive repair work before they can finish. Someone better hurry, May 2011 is coming quickly.
