excavation site Archives - Rocks to Recreation

August Mack Environmental has submitted a memorandum to clarify information in the “Noise and Fugitive Dust Monitoring Report” to respond to citizen comments made during the Noblesville Common Council Meeting.

In conclusion, the noise information provided in the report cannot and does not indicate an exceedance of any ordinance. From a noise perspective, this project is not unique. The equipment and activities that will be utilized on this site are the same that are used in almost all construction projects and the noise levels from this type of equipment is well documented. Based on the data collected and presented in the Report, no violations of the noise ordinance are expected. 

To read the full memorandum download it here.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

🚫 Blasting

🚫 Crushing

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.

Will our roads be dusty?

No, a tire wash will clean the truck tires before they leave the site and enter onto Allisonville Rd.

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 long will the excavation project last?

The excavation will last approximately 5 years.

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.

In 1946, Forrest Beaver started the Beaver Gravel Corporation. Beaver Gravel is a fifth-generation gravel operation located in Noblesville, Indiana. The Cicero Creek and White River are located on the North and East side of where their operations have been performed since 1949. The Beaver family has lived and raised their families here since 1949. In no way, is it their business plan to jeopardize the community we live and play in.”

With a focus on water safety in their community, Beaver Gravel Corporation hired Intera, a highly regarded hydrologic expert, to conduct an in-depth analysis of water quality and quantity. Their report showed there would be minimal risk of operations affecting water quality or quantity. The phrasing minimal risk is used as there is risk in everything, for instance, the land currently has minimal risk today.

For added context, Westfield water started putting water wells in the River Road area in 1986. As the City of Westfield’s water demand grew, they added more wells in 1992. In 2007, the City of Westfield purchased land from the Beaver Family to add a major well field on the levy between the Beaver Gravel Corporation operations and the White River to help with rapid recharging of the aquifer. There are 17 major water wells located along River Road that were implemented decades after our operations began in 1949, suggesting there should be little to no concern regarding the quality of the drinking water as the water is safe today.

All of these wells have gravel pits in their wellhead protection areas and there has not been any problem between quality or quantity in 25 years.  Also keep in mind, the Noblesville Park site is only an excavation site and not a gravel pit.

Other key points to keep in mind:

  • No history of contamination. If the utilities were worried about contamination, or if there was any contamination present, they would not drill any new wells there.
  • No monitoring system. There is no water quality monitoring system in place at any of these wellfields. What we are proposing with the sentinel well system at the proposed site is way above and beyond anywhere in the state.
  • No models or assessments were required at any of these sites. Again our study went above and beyond.

Beaver Gravel has heard the concerns of their neighbors and taken time between filings to address as many concerns as possible and updated their plans accordingly. These can all be found on their website. They are committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of Noblesville, all while delivering an amazing park bound by seeking the zoning that would make this park possible. Hamilton County residents will be able to enjoy this park for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will our drinking water be affected?

A monitoring program at the Potter’s Bridge site will be implemented to protect drinking water.

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.

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.

The FACTS on how an excavation site can be turned into a recreation park, and the heart of any community.

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 in your community by converting an excavation site? What are the risks and what are the myths of how this will work? Here we will break down the facts and myths of how the excavation site will work before it gets created into a recreation site.

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.

The FACTS on how an excavation site can be turned into a recreation park, and the heart of any community.

We know that some people may have concerns that the excavation leading up to the new expansion of Potter’s Bridge Park may affect the quality of life. We want to make sure we “bust” the myths that exist about air quality, noise or dust from the site.

Will we need to worry about the quality of our air?

There is no reason to worry about air quality. Because the land at the Potter’s Bridge Park expansion site is only an excavation site and not a gravel pit, the dust will be minimal. Gravel processing will NOT occur on site.

Will there be a lot of noise?

To limit the effects of noise, trucks will only run on weekdays between 7 am – 5pm. Operations will NOT happen on weekends or holidays. Additionally, there will be NO gravel processing, NO blasting and NO crushing.

How will the dust be managed on site?

Keeping dust levels low is a priority at the excavation 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.

For more myth-busting facts, check out the other articles on our blog.

 

QUALITY OF LIFE

 

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.

 

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 🚫 Blasting 🚫 Crushing.

 

How old does to be managed on the 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.

The FACTS on how a temporary 5-year excavation site can be turned into a recreation park, and the heart of any community.

As we get closer to having the expansion at Potter’s Bridge Park become a reality, we want to assure everyone that both the preparation for turning the land over to the Hamilton County Parks & Recreation Department will be safe, and allay any concerns over the safety of the lake. Check out this video that covers the main questions we have heard. You can also download our safety fact sheet.

The FACTS on how an excavation site can be turned into a recreation park, and the heart of any community.

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 in your community by converting an excavation site? What are the risks and what are the myths of how this will work? Here we will break down the facts and myths of how the excavation site will work before it gets created into a recreation site. 

Myth Buster Infographic (1)

QUALITY OF LIFE

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. 

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 🚫 Blasting 🚫 Crushing. 

How How old does to be managed on the 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.

ENVIRONMENT

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 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. 

ROADS

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. 

SAFETY

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 lake will only be approximately 30-feet deep. 

PROPERTY VALUES

Will having a gravel exclamation 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 

Rocks to Recreation