Farnsworth Group was chosen to address Rockford Park District’s erosion and sedimentation problems in Sinnissippi Park. Along with four subconsultants, Farnsworth Group designed solutions to an eroding ravine system, a surcharging storm sewer system within a manicured garden, and an eroding shoreline along the Rock River.
For the eroding ravine system, we designed scour pools at the upstream end of the main channel and both tributaries to dissipate energy. Several cross-vane weirs were designed in series to stabilize the banks and direct the force of the water into the center of the channel. An infiltration basin at the downstream end of the ravine system will slow the discharge, reduce the volume of water through infiltration, and settle sediment from the water column before it enters the closed system. The riparian corridor will have vegetation removed and replaced with native vegetation to stabilize the banks.
The surcharging storm sewer system is downstream of the ravine system and will be mitigated by the proposed infiltration basin upstream to reduce the volume, slow the flow, and reduce sediment within the piped system.
The shoreline of the Rock River is being eroded by overland flow forming rivulets through the bank to the River. A trench drain will be installed on the River side of the existing walking trail to intercept the water before it runs down the bank.
