Irvine Ranch Water District
http://www.irwd.com/environment/natural-treatment-system/natural-treatment-site-orchard-meadow.html
Natural Treatment Site: Orchard Meadow
The Orchard Meadow NTS basin is located at the corner of Orchard Hills and Portola Parkway. Orchard Meadow has yet to receive sufficient flows to warrant regular water quality monitoring. Since its inception, however, the wetland vegetation planted at the site has filled in well.
The primary surrounding land uses are mostly agriculture at the present time. It is anticipated that as future development fills in the surrounding watershed, enough dry weather flow can be sustained to allow a regular monitoring program..
Orchard Meadow
Location: 12401.75 Orchard Hills, Irvine
Size: 2.4 acres
Tributary Watershed: 151 ac
Status: On line, June 2008
Orchard Meadow
Biological Values:
The site maintains average biological values, even though it is close to urban development (to the south and west, outside its watershed) and agricultural uses (within its watershed). Much of the habitat is seasonal alkali meadow, but many cattails have emerged and are being maintained within the channel.
Additional biological observations are planned in the future.
The following nesting bird species were observed on the site: Marsh Wren, Mallard, House Finch, Black Phoebe, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee.
Orchard Meadow
Routine Maintenance Activities:
- TruGreen LandCare provides routine irrigation and landscape maintenance services at the site. Additional work such as mulch replacement, irrigation repairs, aquatic herbicide application, aquatic vegetation removal, and sediment removal were performed throughout the year.
- System operations staff performed weekly site inspection, water quality monitoring, and landscape and irrigation maintenance review.
Major Repairs:
- None during this fiscal year, however, the main inlet pool needs to have sediment removed.
Major Improvements: None during this year.
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