City of Mission Hills, Kansas

2010

A continual source of maintenance since being deeded to the city of Mission Hills by private owners, Willow Lake is the outfall for several stormwater pipe systems and a natural channel that drains a residential watershed. As a result, it had collected all the sediment, garbage, debris and chemicals found in typical residential runoff. WRS devised a concept plan that included improvements to water quality, aquatic habitat, aesthetics and public lake access. Specific improvements included a wetland bench to provide habitat, water quality improvement and erosion protection for the shore. Lake aeration was addressed in the concept. In addition, landscape architecture improvements were developed to make the lake more aesthetic and publicly accessible.

The concept design report developed as part of the lake’s watershed included:

• Concept plan description

• Concept plan cost

• Upstream sediment control

• Recommendation to develop a lake management plan

• Watershed public education

• Recommended wetland plant list

• Potential funding sources

The City of Mission Hills embraced the recommended improvements and selected Water Resources Solutions to complete the design. Construction for the project was completed in Summer 2010.