2023 - GLENDALE CEMETERY WET POND REHABILITATION - DES MOINES

Project Partners

• City of Des Moines Parks and Rec

• Friends of Des Moines Parks

• Waveland Park Neighborhood Association

• Des Moines Urban Conservation Committee

• Des Moines Citizen Cemetery Advisory Committee

  
  

  
  

Grant award: $250,000 - WQI  

Total project: $   

Applicant/Partner Contributions: : $1,000,000

Description
On top of the Waveland Creek Watershed lies Glendale Cemetery Pond, receiving 122 acres of urban runoff from the City of Des Moines. The shoreline was reshaped to reduce erosion and an underground hydrodynamic separator was added as a form of pre-treatment to reduce sedimentation from entering the 2-acre pond. These efforts improve water quality while reducing erosion downstream. The water to the pond ultimately discharges into Walnut Creek and then the Racoon river.

During the Project:

• Sediment was removed to restore storage capacity.

• A modified outlet structure was installed to control stormwater flow.

• The banks were seeded with native vegetation to stabilize banks, deter waterfowl, support pollinators, and enhance aesthetics.

Fun Fact: During the excavation, a wooden wagon wheel was found dating back to circa 1939 when the pond was originally constructed.

Practices

• Wet pond