One large live oak, located in the middle of a proposed storm-water pond, had become a favorite hangout for the Roseate Spoonbills. Our original master plan sought to maximize the retention capacity of the community’s storm-water ponds. This is another example of ‘what looks good on paper, sometime isn’t.’ We worked with the consulting engineers who permitted the pond with the SJRWMD (St. Johns River Water Management District) to determine the excess retention capacity in the lake design from our master plan. We prepared a revised design that preserved the tree in the pond. Then we had to convince the developer that the extra cost of the bulkheads was warranted. Now the preserved tree offers a safe refuge for the Roseate Spoonbills during their annual summer migration and a dramatic focal point for the pond. The slide show below shows the progression of construction and the completed pond with the preserved tree. In addition to master planning services, Prospectus offers construction management which in this case took advantage of special circumstances to improve the finished product.
Mar 052007