Trees Clearing

[danlb_2000]

Expanded retention pond. Look at some of the Scott Keating aerial images and you can see that pond is now bigger. You can kind-of see it in this one http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions...struction-site---foundations-being-poured.htm

But, that makes me wonder, what do these retention ponds do and why do they keep expanding and building more?

I am not an expert on this, but I believe the purpose of these ponds is storm water control. Currently the area where the expansion will be is a permeable surface, mainly dirt. A lot of the rain that falls on it can soak into the ground. Once the expansion is complete most of it will be a non-permeable surface (buildings, concrete, etc), so the water needs to go somewhere. The run off can be channeled into these ponds where it can have a chance to soak into the ground and/or evaporate.

Quoting from the Wikipedia article on Retention Basisn:

"Sometimes they [Retention basins] act as a replacement for the natural absorption of a forest or other natural process that was lost when an area is developed.["

 

[kaos]

Not you- the thread troll....

Back, back... down the falls....

 

[Tom]

I am not an expert on this, but I believe the purpose of these ponds is storm water control. Currently the area where the expansion will be is a permeable surface, mainly dirt. A lot of the rain that falls on it can soak into the ground. Once the expansion is complete most of it will be a non-permeable surface (buildings, concrete, etc), so the water needs to go somewhere. The run off can be channeled into these ponds where it can have a chance to soak into the ground and/or evaporate.

Quoting from the Wikipedia article on Retention Basisn:

"Sometimes they [Retention basins] act as a replacement for the natural absorption of a forest or other natural process that was lost when an area is developed.["

You're exactly right. Any time you pave or build a structure that prevents water from naturally absorbing into the earth, you must compensate for that natural drainage/runoff in another manner.

If you don't have room for a retention pond, you can install subterranean vaults/reservoirs that collect water from storm drains and gradually discharge it into waterways.

WDW needs to conform to this policy (often a law) more than almost anyone in the country, since they literally built everything on top of a swamp, and deal with an obscenely high ground water table constantly - hence the canals they built all over property before they did anything else in the late 60s.

 

[jt04]

Wow! :dazzle:


This is the first I have seen this new area and let me be the first to say (or second or third) that it appears to be much more than a retention pond. I'm guessing a new land or possibly a consolidated parking area for the MK. But this appears to be something major. Very major.

Let the speculating begin!

 

[SeaCastle]

Wow! :dazzle:


This is the first I have seen this new area and let me be the first to say (or second or third) that it appears to be much more than a retention pond. I'm guessing a new land or possibly a consolidated parking area for the MK. But this appears to be something major. Very major.

Let the speculating begin!

Something major, like maintaining the delicate hydrology of the Floridian wetlands.

As of now, there is nothing to suggest that the area is (or will be in the forseeable future) used as anything more than a retention pond. It's fair to say anything otherwise is armchair Imagineering or wiishful thinking.

 

[jt04]

Something major, like maintaining the delicate hydrology of the Floridian wetlands.

As of now, there is nothing to suggest that the area is (or will be in the forseeable future) used as anything more than a retention pond. It's fair to say anything otherwise is armchair Imagineering or wiishful thinking.

Hey that is what I do best. Of course I call it 'hope and change'. :animwink:

 

[mp2bill]

The trees (I believe) are being cleared for an expansion of the retention pond in Slipknot's post. The retention pond will be expanded southeastward and there will be an island in the middle. From my understanding this was necessary for the expansion to take place due to the hydrology of the surrounding area.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm. What's the island in the middle for?