CONCORD, Mass. – Southington-Cheshire YMCAs are seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to impact waters of the U.S. in conjunction with placing fill material and dredging Sloper Pond in Southington Conn.

The applicants plan to excavate out sediment from Sloper Pond and discharge approximately 2,600 square feet of fill material into waters of the U.S. adjacent to the pond in order to make improvements to recreational areas. They plan to drawdown the water depth of Sloper Pond by using pumps and siphons and installing a temporary diversion system. Minor repairs to the existing dam will be made when the drawdown is complete. Accumulated sediment will be excavated. Excavated material will be brought to an on-site dewatering area with water control measures.

The entirety of the 18 acre pond bottom then will be mechanically graded. Dredging the 18 acre pond will increase pond depth and allow for more educational and recreational activities to take place.

On the eastern side of the pond, a portion of the temporary water diversion berm will be left in place to act as a permanent sediment forebay, which will reduce sediment input into the pond and allow for easier sediment removal in the future. On the western site of the pond, a low level outfall pipe with a 460 square foot riprap apron will be installed. The outfall pipe will be used to lower water levels for maintenance or emergency situations. Approximately 350 square feet of riprap streambank protection will be placed further downstream in order to prevent future erosion.

A temporary construction access drive and culvert will be constructed in wetlands resulting in approximately 700 square feet of impact. This area will have approximately 6,000 square feet of tree clearing but will be restored to pre-construction conditions after work is complete. The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice, with more specifics on the proposed work, can be viewed on the Corps website at: http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on the work proposed by Southington-Cheshire YMCAs (file #NAE-2012-1077) should be forwarded no later than Jan. 8, 2016 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Lindsay Flieger), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA  01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Lindsay Flieger at 978-318-8656 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: lindsay.flieger@usace.army.mil.