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Reestablishing a historic wildlife habitat in Arizona

Completed in 2005, the Ed Pastor Kino Environmental Restoration Project (KERP) modified the existing Ajo Detention Basin by adding a reclaimed water storage component while reestablishing a historic wildlife habitat and natural ecological system whose characteristics and functions were integrated with the existing storm water control facility. The project’s water harvesting and restoration features served as a model for five subsequent Pima County projects (Tres Rios Del Norte, Paseo de las Iglesias, El Rio Antiguo, Swan Wetlands, and Agua Caliente) located adjacent to the Rillito or Santa Cruz Rivers.

Tetra Tech provided planning, design, and construction period services for the Pima County Flood Control District.

KERP was the first U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) environmental restoration project in the Southwest as well as the first developed by Pima County. The project covers approximately 141 acres and contains 28 acres of riparian habitat and open water, including a 5.6-acre, 50-foot deep pond and 21 acres of grassland, mesquite bosque, marsh, and upland vegetation.

Tetra Tech’s design provides an ecologically friendly stormwater detention and reclaim water storage facility that captures and stores normally lost urban runoff and reclaim water. This water is then used for turf irrigation for the existing Cactus League/Pacific Coast League baseball stadium and complex of baseball practice fields, as well as a planned future golf facility.

Highlight:

In 2006, Tetra Tech received the USACE Chief of Engineers Design and Environmental Engineering Award of Excellence for this project.