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<br />, . <br /> <br />Retention-Svstems <br />- "Werponcts <br /> <br />Limitations (continued) <br /> <br />. The local climate during winter may affect the biological removal of pollutants in the pond. (Lower tempera- <br />tures decrease the rate of biological activity). Also, formation of an ice layer may reduce the pond's treatment <br />efficiency. <br /> <br />. Concern for mosquitoes and maintaining oxygen in ponds. <br /> <br />. Cannot be placed on steep unstable slopes. <br /> <br />. Depending on volume and depth, pond designs may require approval from dam safety authorities. <br /> <br />Reauirements <br />lilslgl'l <br /> <br />Pond Volume and Surface Area <br /> <br />Designing the volume of the permanent pool usually involves defining a rainstorm event called the "water quality <br />event". For wet ponds, the runoff volume generated from the water quality event (called the "water quality <br />volume") is equal to the volume ofthe wet pond. Local authorities will likely have their own definitions for the <br />water quality event or the runoff volume that it generates. However, two published water quality event recom- <br />mendations endorsed by the MPCA are the I-year, 24-hour storm event (roughly 2 to 2.4 inches in Minnesota) and <br />the 2.5-inch, 24-hour storm event (Walker, 1987). If the I-year, 24-hour storm event is used, an additional volume <br />for sediment storage must be added to the permanent pool design. If Walker's 2.5" storm is used, 25 years of <br />sediment accumulation has already been incorporated into the pond volume. <br /> <br />The volume of runoff from the water quality event is best predicted by a combination of monitoring existing <br />conditions and modeling future conditions. However, local authorities will likely have their own methods for <br />calculating runoff volume from storm events. For design purposes, the water quality volume should be considered <br />an instant flow to the pond, not an inflow-outflow calculation. In other words, this volume should be considered to <br />arrive at the pond all at once, rather than over the course of several hours or days. The assumption of instant <br />runoff is conservative, but it accounts for a great deal ofthe variability that occurs in both storm events and runoff <br />conditions. <br /> <br />The 25-year sediment volume needed for the pond (if the I-year, 24-hour storm is used as the water quality event) <br />can be calculated with NRCS sediment storage calculation methods (see Sediment Management, below). <br /> <br />A minimum pool surface area of 0.25 acres is recommended based on the typical drainage area size required to <br />sustain a permanent pool during summer months. <br /> <br />?f \) <br /> <br />Pond Depth: <br /> <br />Pool depth is an important design factor, especially for sediment deposition. An average pool depth of 3 to 6 feet <br />is recommended. Settling column studies and modeling analyses have shown that shallow ponds have higher solids <br />removal than deeper ones. However, resuspension of settled materials by wind may be a problem in shallow ponds <br />that are less than 2 feet in depth. Depths in excess of 10 feet may result in thermal stratification. Stratified pools <br />tend to become anoxic (low or no oxygen) more often than shallower ponds. For wetpool depths in excess of 10 <br />feet, it is re ommended that some form of recirculation be provided in the summer, such as a fountain or aerator t <br />prevent stagnation and low dissolved oxygen con 1 IOns. <br /> <br />--- <br /> <br />3-258 <br /> <br />Minnesota Urban Small Sites BMP Manual <br />