The purpose of the Simmers-Young Park Water Quality Improvement project is to reduce nutrients leaving the existing pond and therefore improve the water quality of Lena Run. Simmers-Young Park (SYP) is a multi-use recreation park located in unincorporated Polk County and owned by Polk County. Stormwater runoff from SYP, as well as an off-site area to the east, flows to an existing pond on the north side of the park and eventually discharges to Lena Run. Lena Run is a 7.3-mile freshwater stream originating at Lake Lena and ultimately discharging to Lake Hancock. This stream is currently listed as impaired and has a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Total Nitrogen (TN), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), and fecal coliform. The SYP existing stormwater pond does not have an outfall consistent with traditional water quality control practices, and simply outfalls via a pipe. Through this project the County will improve water quality through the addition of an improved pond outfall, floating wetlands, a nanobubbler, and several best management practices (BMPs) upstream of the pond.
