The city of Durango is ready to sign a lease to acquire land for a detention basin to handle storm water from the city’s northeast quadrant.
The property is 3.86 acres at East 32nd Street and Holly Avenue.
The Bureau of Land Management is transferring the property to the city.
City officials have puzzled for years about how to protect low-lying property along East 32nd Street – and ultimately Animas River wetlands – from thousands of gallons of storm water that can carry pollutants, including oil and gasoline off streets, metals and solids.
Keith Dougherty, an engineer with the city, said Tuesday the lease is being reviewed and will be returned soon to the BLM. With a final design in hand, the city will put the project out to bid, he said. Construction could begin this summer.
As envisioned, the detention basin would hold water for hours after runoff enters the system. A 40-hour drain time removes a significant amount of suspended solids. A small wetlands at the outlet enhances removal of soluble pollutants.
Jennifer Jardine, the BLM realty specialist who is handling the matter, said the cost of the land to the city will be the minimum $50. Otherwise, recipients pay $10 an acre in similar circumstances.
Connie Clementon, manager of the BLM’s Tres Rios field office, signed off on the transfer Dec. 19. After the city inks the lease, it must outline how the retention basin will be developed.
In the end, the city will own the property, Jardine said. The BLM will be a watchdog forever, though, to make sure the stated use is observed, she said.
Durango officials have been working on the detention basin project since the 1980s when a study identified the threat of pollutants to nearby riparian areas.
A torrent of water flows down East 32nd Street during heavy rains.
A detention basin would collect runoff from some 290 developed acres. When toxic substances are removed, the water would be piped 1,500 feet and then discharged near the wetlands.
The wetlands were created by a private property owner who was paid by developers or government agencies whose projects destroyed wetlands elsewhere.
daler@durangoherald.com
