Frequently Asked Questions
We all like to spend time in parks, they provide space for physical activity and community, along with positive environmental effects.
What if there was a solution to introduce a creative way of developing a park to your community by converting excavation sites? But what are the risks and what are the myths of creating these sites? Here we will break down the facts and myths that go along with creating recreation sites from excavation sites and how it will be in your community.
Will the new development be built on the lake for their use?
No, the lake is being designed by the park for recreational use.
Will removing the sand and gravel require water extraction?
No, the excavator used to remove sand and gravel does not extract water.
Will off-site fill dirt be used for the new residential development?
No, the plans do not include bringing in fill material from off-site.
Will there be a gravel pit at Potter’s Bridge Park?
No, this is only an excavation site, similar to a retention pond in a residential development, and not a gravel pit. No industrial processing will take place.
Should I worry about the quality of our air?
No, the dust will be minimal because it is only an excavation site, not a gravel pit, with no gravel processing occurring on-site.
How will dust be managed on site?
A water truck will wet the ground at the beginning and end of each workday.
Aggregate piles will be maintained and wet down, and all trucks will be tarped to minimize fugitive dust emissions into the air.
Aggregate piles will be maintained and wet down, and all trucks will be tarped to minimize fugitive dust emissions into the air.
Will our drinking water be affected?
A monitoring program at the Potter’s Bridge site will be implemented to protect drinking water.
Will our roads be dusty?
No, a tire wash will clean the truck tires before they leave the site and enter onto Allisonville Rd.
Will the trucks damage our roads?
No, INDOT regulated scales are used to ensure that each load does not exceed maximum tonnage or place excess strain on the roadways.
Will truck traffic provide additional dangers?
To help ensure safety, acceleration and deceleration lanes will be added for the turn into the excavation area
Will the extraction site compromise the White River?
No, safety controls put in place and close collaboration with the DNR and other federal and state agencies ensure that the White River will not be compromised and the environment protected. A water test completed by a third party concluded there are no effects on water level, quality or quantity by current or future efforts.
Will there be a lot of noise?
Trucks only run on weekdays 7 am - 5 pm, limiting the effect on your day, and operations will NOT happen on weekends or holidays. There will be:
🚫 No Gravel Processing
🚫 No Blasting
🚫 No Crushing
🚫 No Gravel Processing
🚫 No Blasting
🚫 No Crushing
Will the lake negatively affect the flow of the river?
The creation of the lake will create an alternate source for overflow from the river to limit downstream flooding, providing a benefit to the City of Noblesville.
Will the excavation site compromise the floodplain?
Most gravel extraction occurs in a flood plain since the river is what deposits the gravel.
Will wildlife habitats be compromised?
No, the excavation of the site will actually provide a protected area for the wildlife when the project is complete.
Is swimming allowed in the lake?
Hamilton County Parks and Recreation will not have life guards on duty, so swimming will not be allowed.
Is there a steep drop-off in the lake?
The lake will be sloped 3:1 with no steep drop-off, allowing it to be used for recreation
Is the lake deep like a quarry?
Unlike a quarry, the gravel extraction will only go down approximately 30 feet, limiting the depth of the lake.
Will having a gravel excavation site decrease my property value?
A third-party study was completed that shows property values will not decrease during the excavation.
How long will the excavation project last?
The excavation will last approximately 5 years.