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Detention Ponds

Stormwater issues present ongoing challenges to engineers, owner/developers, contractors and governing authorities. While meeting stormwater quality standards is a mandate, maximizing land use remains a top priority.

Detention ponds and extended storage ponds provide effective solutions to national, state and local requirements for stormwater runoff control and management, and a number of conventional approaches can be used. But three of Tensar International’s mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) systems offer innovative, cost-effective solutions to increase storage volume while minimizing the impact on usable land. Each can be specified to steepen the interior sides of a pond or the external sides of a berm. More economical and attractive than conventional concrete structures, our MSE systems add aesthetic and environmental value, too.


Tensar’s detention pond solutions feature:

  • Tensar® Geogrids. Made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material, this polymeric reinforcement resists chemical, biological and environmental degradation, allowing the use of a variety of backfill materials, including recycled concrete. Its open aperture structure promotes superior soil drainage.
  • Resistance to abrasion, tearing and hydrolysis
  • A variety of facing treatments to comply with project requirements
  • Full service design and supply systems, including engineered drawings and site assistance
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Three of Tensar International’s mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) systems offer innovative, cost-effective solutions to increase storage volume while minimizing the impact on usable land.

Our systems used for detention pond/extended storage pond applications include:

  • Mesa® Retaining Wall Systems -- Fully integrated segmental retaining wall (SRW) systems designed for optimum efficiency, structural integrity and performance. Mesa Systems feature a positive mechanical connection at their face for superior holding capabilities. A variety of standard sizes and custom colors satisfies any design specification.
  • SierraScape® Retaining Wall System -- The only wire-formed wall system with a positive mechanical connection. Featuring stone, vegetated and architectural veneer facing options, the SierraScape System is both highly versatile and low maintenance.
  • Sierra® Slope Retention System -- The Sierra System provides an economical and aesthetic alternative to conventional retaining walls, replacing them with natural, landscaped structures that blend with the surrounding environment. Sierra System installations typically cost 30-60% less than conventional concrete walls.

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