Trendwood Park Water Quality BMP

November 2013

The City of Lincoln Public Works and Utilities Watershed Division and The Flatwater Group, Inc. have begun the design phase of the Trendwood Park Water Quality BMP project (Deadmans Run Watershed Master Plan: Project 11 PDF). Trendwood Park is located at the outlet of a 270-acre drainage area consisting primarily of residential development. The drainage area contributes large amounts of trash, sediment, and other urban pollutants. Design goals consist of storm water detention from the urban watershed, sediment trapping and removal, and water quality improvement in Deadmans Run. The project will be located within the extents shown.

Included in the design is construction of a retention pond to improve water quality in Deadmans Run. This pond will be 2 to 6 feet deep and will serve to remove sediment, nutrients, and dissolved pollutants from storm runoff. Native grasses will be planted around the pond to create a riparian buffer that will improve trapping efficiency. The design also includes a concrete outlet structure to control the flow of water through the pond and a concrete forebay to facilitate maintenance and removal of trapped sediments.

What is Deadmans Run?

Deadmans Run is a 6-mile long stream that starts in Trendwood Park and flows through Lincoln before entering Salt Creek near 27th Street and Cornhusker Hwy. Water then flows down Salt Creek to the Platte River.

What's wrong with the water in Deadmans Run?

Deadmans Run drains roughly 9 square miles of eastern Lincoln. This urbanized watershed produces pollutants such as sediment, lawn chemicals, animal waste, trash, organic matter, metals, oil and grease. Additionally, impervious surfaces such as roofs and pavement in the watershed increase storm water runoff, which causes erosion in the stream. Pollution and erosion harm downstream water quality and aquatic species.

What is a Retention Pond?

A retention pond is a small reservoir that is designed to capture and hold storm water runoff for an extended period of time. The extended holding time allows for sediment particles to settle out of the water and become trapped in the pond. Natural biologic processes in the pond and uptake from surrounding vegetation help remove pollution such as nutrients and bacteria from the water.

Retention Pond Example of a Retention Pond

What is a Riparian Buffer?

Riparian buffers are areas of native vegetation such as tall grasses, trees, and shrubs that are planted along the banks of ponds or streams. These buffers serve to stabilize the banks and filter trash, sediment, and other pollutants from storm runoff.

Tall Grass Riparian Buffer Example of a Tall Grass Riparian Buffer

What is an Outlet Structure?

An outlet structure typically consists of a pipe or weir used to control the flow of water. In Trendwood Park, a concrete weir has been designed to slowly drain water through the pond to maximize trapping efficiency. Additionally, the weir has been designed to overtop at higher flows such that it will not increase flooding upstream.

Concrete Outlet Structure Example of a Concrete Outlet Structure

What is a Forebay?

A forebay is typically a small impoundment upstream of a larger reservoir that is used to facilitate maintenance. In Trendwood Park a concrete lined forebay was designed to catch water before entering the pond to allow for easy removal of trash, gravel, and sediments by park maintenance staff.

How effective will the pond be at trapping sediment?

Unfortunately the watershed is too large to capture and treat all of the runoff from a typical storm event in this wet retention pond. The riparian buffer is used to increase the footprint of the pond through dry detention without having standing water behind residences. Dry detention allows for filtering of larger sediment particles and helps reduce erosion downstream. The table below provides sediment trapping estimates for a typical storm event by the pond system.

Soil Type Percent Capture
Sands and Gravels > 95%
Silts 35% - 50%
Fine Clays < 5%
Sediment Accumulation in Trendwood Park Sediment Accumulation in Trendwood Park

How can you help?

Property owners can help improve water quality in Deadmans Run by installing a rain barrel or planting a rain garden, which help reduce the amount of storm runoff that flows into Trendwood Park. With less water entering the park, the pond becomes more efficient at trapping pollutants. More information is available on the City of Lincoln Watershed Management web site at, keywords: rain barrel and rain garden.

Will the project help control flooding?

No, this project will not control flooding. This is solely a water quality improvement project.

Who is paying for the project?

This project is being funded through the 2012 Stormwater Improvement Bond.

Public Involvement

Open House - Tuesday, November 19, 2013
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Bethel Baptist Church, 1401 S. 77th St.
Open House Display (2.11 M) PDF
Open House Handout (246 K) PDF

Project Contacts

  • Ben Higgins, City of Lincoln, Watershed Management

    555 South 10th Street, Suite 203
    Lincoln, NE 68508
    Phone: 402-441-7589

  • Justin Cermak, The Flatwater Group, Inc.

    Phone: 402-435-5441