Ditching Contamination and Embracing Trails Providing Site Reuse Designs for the South Ditch in McGill, Nevada Project Summary Community: McGill, Nevada Technical Assistance: Site Reuse Design Former Use: Mines Tailing Ditch Future Use: Walkable Trail The South Ditch in McGill, Nevada is an approximately 0.25-mile-long linear corridor that was once used by the Kennecott Nevada Copper Company operations as a slag ditch but is now owned by White Pine County. In its existing condition, the ditch runs through residential neighborhoods and is neglected, overgrown, and floods periodically. Erosion along its length is threatening to undermine culverts, pavement, and adjacent fences and structures. White Pine County has discussed how the ditch corridor could be converted into a community amenity, such as a walking path and greenway that brings together important community assets such as the town's historic buildings, local ballpark, and library. McGill residents have expressed interest in advancing economic development in their town, including revitalizing main street businesses, and adding retail and restaurants, so this corridor could play a key part in McGill's economic development. The Community's Challenge The county's primary goals for the site are to solve the issues of flooding and erosion, remediate soil and sediment contamination as needed, and convert the South Ditch into a community asset. Improvements could also include removing invasive weed species from the ditch corridor and improving aesthetics. However, the South Ditch offers a unique challenge of being segmented throughout residential neighborhoods. In order to effectively present the county's ideas to the community, first a plan and a vision is needed for how to revitalize the South Ditch. EPA's Land Revitalization Technical Assistance In 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Land Revitalization Program provided contractor technical assistance to develop a site reuse design for the South Ditch. The assistance involved developing options for addressing the flooding, erosion, and aesthetics problems, as well as providing conceptual designs for a greenway or community path to turn this land into a community amenity. The report presented three levels of design options with potential interventions ranging from baseline improvements to supporting McGill's regional presence and economic growth via a trail circulation loop. The report presented opportunities and constraints for the South Ditch, provided cost estimates based on two redevelopment scenarios, and identified potential sources for funding. Using this assistance, the county can take the next step in the redevelopment process with a clear vision to convert this source of contamination into an asset. Conceptual Rendering of a Potential Completed Path in Place of the South Ditch For more information, contact Lisa Hanusiak, EPA Region 9 Brown fields Program, at hanusiak.lisa@epa.gov. SEPA United States Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization Environmental Protection Agency 560-F-23-339 ------- |