Cal Poly Pond/Reservoir Maintenance

The project consists of routine maintenance and minor restoration at three existing campus agricultural water storage reservoirs: Indonesian Reservoir, Middlecamp Reservoir, and Drum Reservoir. Over time, sediment accumulation and dense emergent vegetation growth, primarily bulrush, have reduced water storage capacity and water quality and impaired existing reservoir infrastructure. Vegetation and sediment have obstructed overflow intake structures, clogged pump intakes, contributed to pump burnouts, and hindered routine inspections and maintenance. Project activities include selective removal of excess emergent vegetation and accumulated sediment; off-site transport and disposal of removed material at a licensed disposal facility; equipment staging for (refueling, stockpiling, and parking) outside aquatic resources, where feasible; and implementation of stormwater best management practices, including biodegradable straw wattles and native-species hydroseeding of disturbed banks. All work will occur within the existing reservoir footprints and associated infrastructure and will be conducted from reservoir banks using excavators. The project will not expand reservoir capacity, modify reservoir boundaries, remove trees, create new facilities or roadways, alter existing land uses, or increase operational capacity beyond existing conditions. The project does not involve expansion or creation of waters of the state. The reservoirs are existing managed water-storage facilities supporting campus agricultural pedagogy, including farms, gardens, and land laboratories used as living classrooms for hands-on, place-based learning. They also support campus flood-management resilience. Beneficiaries include campus students, faculty, agricultural programs, and the broader campus community. These activities will restore water storage volume, improve water quality, and enhance the reservoirs’ effectiveness for agricultural water supply and campus flood management. The reservoirs are also utilized by CAL FIRE for aerial wildfire-suppression support; by restoring reservoir function and reducing vegetation obstruction, the project will improve aerial access to available water resources.