Orchard Mesa Detention Pond

In 2009 Ayres delineated a floodplain for Orchard Mesa. Ayres developed a master plan, conceptually designing several alternatives to mitigate flooding in the area. Mesa County acquired grant funding for one of the proposed projects, a detention pond located on the Mesa County Fairgrounds, and retained Ayres and DHM to design the pond to meet the intended uses of the site according to the Mesa County Fairgrounds Master Plan while at the same time serving as a detention pond to reduce flooding downstream.

Ayres developed final detention pond design details, completed construction plans and specifications, and provided engineering support during 2017-2018 construction of the Orchard Mesa Detention Pond on the fairgrounds site next to U.S. 50. The pond was designed to collect flood water traveling parallel to Highway 50, reducing the flooding impacts downstream and across U.S. 50. The project received Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency along with associated state and local funding.

This project won a 2018 American Public Works Association Colorado Chapter Project Award in the Parks and Trails Category – Large Community.

• Dale Mathison, Supervisor – SUE & Survey

• Construction Administration
• Floodplain Mapping, Studies, & Mitigation
• Stormwater Management