Aspen IV Mining Site Reclamation: Rosemont High School

By converting a portion of a former mining site to usable land for a high school, a retention basin, and a separation berm, Teichert has added value to the Rosemont community of Sacramento that will benefit generations to come.

A portion of Teichert Aggregates' former Aspen IV mining site was approved by Sacramento County for infill development. Teichert was granted the entitlements to accommodate the new Rosemont High School, a retention basin, and a separation berm.

While the Aspen IV site has not been mined since 1994, a portion of the property is still used to operate a prewash facility.

Additionally, a conveyor belt transporting aggregate material to Teichert's Perkins plant runs through a portion of the site.

Reclamation Project Highlights

• The new Rosemont High School, including its ball fields and stadium
• The drainage basin serving both the school buildings and ball fields, as well as a future residential project
• The various components employed to provide visual, noise, and light buffers from the school, neighborhood, and existing aggregate prewash and conveyor belt operations
• A separation berm utilized for mass plantings of native grass, shrubs, and oaks

Rosemont High School

Even after local citizens voted to pass a bond measure to fund the much-needed new Rosemont High School, the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) was still desperately looking for a site for the campus.

Teichert had completed mining the Aspen IV site located near Kiefer Boulevard and Mayhew Road, and the company struck a deal with SCUSD.

SCUSD purchased a portion of the land that was at-grade for classrooms, and Teichert donated the below-grade land for sports fields and a water quality retention basin for drainage. Teichert Construction sculpted the ball fields, built the retention basin, and recontoured the slopes before turning the property over to SCUSD.

Overall, about 83 acres of the northern half of the Aspen IV site were either donated or sold to SCUSD in 2001.

After having been in the plans since the 1960's, Rosemont High School opened in the fall of 2003. Students began attending Rosemont High in portable classrooms, with the full campus slated to be fully operational in the fall of 2004.

Teichert has been involved with SCUSD in the planning and design of certain aspects of the school throughout the entire process, including:

• A retention basin that lies within SCUSD property and serves both the school and a future residential property (see more detail on the basin in the "Drainage" section)
• A six-foot high decorative masonry block wall to buffer residents from the school playfields
• Coordination of lighting and fencing materials used in the streetscape along Mayhew Road to tie in with the the aesthetics of the school
• Use of common landscape materials on the internal slopes to create a uniform and consistent look throughout the entire reclamation project
• Cooperative efforts between Teichert and SCUSD - with significant input from the Rosemont Community Association - have resulted in a comprehensive, cohesive plan that serves the school's needs and goals, while at the same time benefiting the local community.
• Rosemont High's ball fields were built below grade, helping to mitigate noise and light intrusion on the surrounding community. Seating for the football stadium was built into the existing slope which avoided having to build a new structure specifically for seating.

Drainage

A unique feature of the overall Aspen IV reclamation project is the manner in which drainage is handled.

As part of the initial land improvements for the Rosemont High School project, a 112-acre foot retention basin was constructed west of the high school ball fields.

The retention basin was designed to percolate, rather than export drainage water offsite.

The basin is designed to hold a 500-year storm for a total of ten days.

Teichert is working hands-on with Rosemont High School students in creating a habitat plan for the basin that is being used as an interpretive study area for current and future students alike - see the next section for more details.

Creating a Lasting Legacy with Rosemont Students

Not too many high school students can say they learn hands-on about native vegetation and habitat restoration in their regular studies. But, thanks to Teichert's Habitat Restoration crew, some Rosemont High School students have a greater personal interest in their campus environment.

As part of some students' curriculum, they are helping transform part of the land into viable open space by planting and monitoring native grasses and plant species. Under the leadership of Habitat Restoration Supervisor Barry Baba and Aggregate Resource Development Project Manager Michael Smith, Rosemont students learned with plans to plant even more about mining, the erosion of slopes, and reclamation.

The students then planted 2,000-3,000 native grass plugs on 1/3 of an acre - with plans to plant even more vegetation in the future. Furthermore, the students are also responsible for monitoring the grass growth.

As part of their vision to work with the community in creating a legacy of trees for future generations, the Sacramento Tree Foundation - for which Michael Smith serves as the current President - worked with the California Conservation Corp to plant 200 native oak trees in the Rosemont High School area. These oaks will serve as a habitat for many animals, birds, and plants - as well as create a visual buffer for future residents in the area.

Teichert Corporate Office

3500 American River Drive
Sacramento, CA 95864
Phone: 916-484-3011
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