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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />August 1, 2012 <br /> <br />CONTACT: <br />Doug Singer, Project Manager, 541-682-8460 <br /> Philip Richardson, Landscape Architect, 541-682-4906 <br /> <br />From Public Information Section, 541-682-5523 or 541-954-2938 <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> <br />Drywell Elimination Project Starts in Shirley Street Area <br />The first in a series of projects to eliminate drywells in parts of River Road and Santa Clara <br />begins August 6. <br />Sixteen drywells in the Shirley Street area in Santa Clara will be removed and the <br />stormwater from that neighborhood will be redirected to flow into a specially designed swale in <br />nearby Ferndale Park, under a $570,000 contract awarded to Eugene Sand Construction Inc. by <br />the Eugene Public Works Department. <br />The goals of the drywell elimination program are to improve drainage and to protect local <br />groundwater quality. Drywells collect stormwater runoff and direct it into the ground, as opposed to <br />directing it to a piped system or waterway. The two most common types of drywell configurations in <br />Eugene are a horizontal perforated pipe embedded in a rock-filled trench and a vertical manhole <br />structure with perforated sides. <br />There is not a piped stormwater system on Shirley Street. However, there is a unique <br />solution that includes creating a large infiltration swale in an undeveloped area in nearby Ferndale <br />Park. The storm runoff will be piped to the swale where it will filter through vegetation, infiltrate into <br />the ground and, as needed, flow to the existing drainage way in the park which is part of Spring <br />Creek. Because the solution involves the use of a park, the City worked closely with neighbors and <br />the Friends of Ferndale Park group on design options for the swale and how the project could <br />improve the park. Many of their suggestions were incorporated into the project including <br />enhancement of the existing segment of Spring Creek, replacing invasive non-native plants with <br />substantial native plantings, and construction of a gravel path alongside the new swale. <br /> <br />Construction is scheduled to take 10 weeks to complete. No costs will be charged directly to <br />local property owners. Funding for the project comes from stormwater user fees paid by city <br />residents and businesses. <br />Over the next several years the City plans to remove more than 100 drywells in River Road- <br />Santa Clara rights of way and is working closely with Lane County to remove drywells in <br />unincorporated areas of River Road-Santa Clara. <br />For more information about Eugene’s drywell elimination program, visit www.eugene- <br />or.gov/drywell. <br /># # # <br /> <br />Public Works Administration ● City of Eugene ● 101 E. Broadway, Suite 400, Eugene, OR 97401 <br />Phone 541-682-8421 ● Fax 541-682-6826 ● www.eugene-or.gov/pw <br />