Portions of the channel are considered to be in serious failure and these repairs are necessary to prevent further impact to the channel and surrounding trail system. On-site sourced wood is expected to be used for channel stability and the Flood Control District is committed to minimize impacts to the trees and vegetation in the area. Once moved, it will be below the graphics and ahead of the paragraph that speaks to public safety
For public safety reasons, Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve Park users can expect intermittent trail closures as the project progresses. Construction is expected to begin in Winter 2020. Additionally, portions of the foot paths along Pillot Gully and Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve Park may be closed due to construction activities and to help protect project staging areas.
The project contractor will be accessing this project from Vintage Preserve Parkway and the anticipated traffic control plan may result in impacts to traffic around the Vintage Preserve Parkway bridge over Pillot Gully for the duration of this project.
Once construction has been completed, a significant tree planting effort will accompany this project. At a public meeting in April 2019, the Flood Control District shared that the tree impacts would be minimal in the project area. However, in addition to the repair of the bottom of the natural channel, it is necessary to repair the eroded side slopes of the channel all the way up to the high bank, and additional space within the right-of-way was needed to implement the project resulting in a need to remove more trees.
While the Flood Control District is working to protect as many existing trees as possible, some additional tree loss during or after construction work completes is possible. The reforestation plan is currently being drafted and will be shared once completed. The Flood Control District will plant a mixture of native hardwood and pine trees along the channel with a density of up to 200 trees planted per acre. Additionally, larger trees up to 20 feet tall may be relocated to and planted along the high bank and trail areas in order to re-establish the forested canopy more quickly. The construction expected to be complete in summer 2020. Reforestation will follow construction, starting in the fall of 2020.