City to conduct study on Holland Lake watershed

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February 12, 2013

City to conduct study on Holland Lake watershed

Anonymous Weatherford Democrat The Weatherford Democrat Tue Feb 12, 2013, 08:00 AM CST

By BRIAN SMITH

The City of Weatherford is looking to undertake a study on the Holland Lake watershed and continue work on South Main Street over the next few weeks.

Director of Capital Transportation Projects Terry Hughes said engineers and consultants will begin the watershed study later this month. The watershed is massive extending from the creek in Holland Lake Park all the way to State Highway 171.

Much of the watershed is still in its natural state, so the study will include the use of hydraulics and hydrology to determine how rainfall will affect creeks and other elements over time, Hughes said.

“We also want to analyze adjacent areas as well to determine how well the undeveloped land could possibly adjust to development,” Hughes said. “We want to let the creek do what nature intended and help augment the quality of life for the community as well.”

Hughes said the study, which is being paid for out of the new storm water utility fund, will help the city work with potential developers in designing ways to keep the Holland Lake corridor protected. The study is expected to be completed by the end of the year

The study will also include a look at the lake itself, which is more than 100 years old. Hughes said with the lake’s history, which reportedly had baptisms in the early days, the city ultimately wants to use the study to help with storm water issues.

South Main update

Hughes said after months of waiting, the northbound lanes of South Main are expected to be finished by early March. Construction on the lanes from I-20 to just north of Bethel Road began about a year ago and took longer than the 10 months expected because of the number of driveways to businesses, Hughes said.

“Because of the driveways which all needed to be piecemealed together, it took some time,” Hughes said. “The west side of the highway doesn’t have the numbers of driveways, so we should be able to go at more of an accelerated pace.”