Current Projects

City of London 319(h) Grant Application (April 2011)

Third Rock Consultants is assisting the City of London with the preparation of a grant application requesting funding from the Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) to continue implementation of water quality improvement and public education projects in the Corbin City Reservoir Watershed.

Following successful completion of the Corbin City Reservoir Watershed Plan, Third Rock applied for and was awarded a second 319(h) grant in 2007 to implement water quality improvement projects throughout the watershed. These projects were identified in the Watershed Plan and considered a priority for improving water quality. The grant-funded projects include the design of two stream and wetland remediation / restoration projects, one on Whitley Branch and another on Town Branch, both tributaries to the Little Laurel River. The Whitley Branch site was purchased by the City of London through a grant from the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund. Using the second 319(h) grant, Third Rock also developed the design and provided construction oversight for an approximately 1-acre stormwater wetland project within Levi Jackson State Park in London as well as a residential rain garden constructed immediately adjacent to Whitley Branch.

Now, the City of London has been invited to apply for a third 319(h) grant to continue implementation of water quality improvement and public education projects in the Corbin City Reservoir watershed. The application requests funding for two main project sites:

  1. Transfer Station Remediation Site - Construction of a stream (Town Branch) and wetland enhancement, construction of a water quality swale for stormwater treatment, and purchase/installation of hydrodynamic separators to treat runoff from a waste handling area. All components are located on the City of London’s “Waste Transfer Station” property.


  2. Whitley Branch Stream and Wetland Restoration Site - Planning, design and construction of green infrastructure throughout a stream (Whitley Branch) and wetland restoration site owned by the City of London to accommodate and enhance the experience of visitors.

The City of London seeks to reconnect with and expand upon the base of support established through the initial grants through RAILL.

Levi Jackson

A stormwater wetland is designed and slated for construction in the fall of 2008 at Levi Jackson State Park. Located at the main entrance to the park next to the popular Mill Pond, this stormwater wetland will retain sediment, nutrients, and pathogens from the Little Laurel River after flooding events thereby reducing the downstream pollutant loadings. This wetland is also expected to alleviate some of the sedimentation problems in the Mill Pond. Click to download the plans for the Levi Jackson stormwater wetland.

Rain gardens

Three rain gardens are currently being designed for the London area to capture runoff from impervious areas thereby promoting infiltration and an overall reduction in pollution to the tributaries of the Little Laurel River. Areas along Main Street in London are being targeted for raingardens at businesses and private residences. In addition, one raingarden is being designed for a private residence adjacent to the Corbin City Reservoir. Click to download the plans for rain gardens.

Transfer Station

Design is near completion on a wetland and stream joint restoration project adjacent to the KY 192 garbage transfer station in London. The primary focus of the restoration is to stabilize the badly eroding stream and reconnect it to its adjacent wetland. This restoration will promote the reduction of downstream pollutants by reducing streambank erosion and by capturing pollutants in the wetland during storm events where they will be naturally treated.

Smith/Little Property Restoration

The Smith/Little property is an 85-acre tract of prior-converted bottomland forest wetland with a bisecting stream (Whitley Branch) between US-25 and KY-229. Decisions should be made in August regarding a Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund grant that would allow for purchase of the land for restoration. Design of the restoration would focus on re-establishing the site to pre-development bottomland forest with an emphasis on education. Specific tasks would include stabilization of the heavily incised stream, removing drainage features in the wetland, and replanting the site with native wetland vegetation. Additionally, walkways would be installed for educational tours of the wetland.