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-Future of earth-moving projects to convert mining pit to “pond”

We should hear in June the decision of the FWC Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Program (AHRE) funding to rent an excavator and attachments to do the littoral zone creation improvement work. 

from Mike Danaher, USFWS:

(March 27, 2025)

This is a significant earth moving operation, as it involves cutting into the solid limestone banks of the pond, dumping excavated fill into the pond to bring it up to grade, moving fill material back and forth to pond from stockpile(s), and then leveling the littoral shelf off. 

Once the littoral shelf is complete, all that material will need to “heal” for a while before it would be suitable for planting. 

To enhance plantings and increase survival, it might even involve bringing in some topsoil in order to incorporate some organic material in the limestone substrate.   

It is going to take an XL excavator along with suitable excavator attachments for cutting into solid limestone, and an experienced excavator operator.  We are probably looking at $25-$30,000 to rent the equipment for a month from CAT based on some of the discussions that I’ve had with equipment operators. 

Due to how deep quarry ponds are, along with their vertical banks, it is going to take quite a bit of time and effort to do the work correctly (probably a month of constant work if I had to bet, and that’s just for creating the littoral shelves).

If you can help us with the excavoter for the job, you will be much appreciated.

Contact Dr Nora Demers contact@cypressiwla.org