Save the Pond!

This is a plea to help a collaborative effort between the Discovery Fossil Museum and the Fresno County Historical Society to save the natural wildlife habitat at the Fossil Discovery Museum in Chowchilla. This habitat is part of the living Yokut Life exhibit that is designed to educate our community about our Native American heritage. It is quite often a part of our history that is ignored or glossed over, this exhibit and curriculum will help tell the stories of our past. The wildlife habitat includes plants, trees, and shrubbery that are native to the area and were used for teas, food, basketry, structures, and medicinal purposes. It also includes a pond that is home to frogs, fish, turtles, ducks, a plethora of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and more fauna that rely on the pond for a safe living environment. The pond needs to either reutilize the existing fire pump or install a new one. The assessment we were given is as follows:

Option #1: Reutilizing the existing pump house, removing the existing fire pump and controllers and installing a new horizontal split case pump/controller supplied by new above ground water storage tanks with connection to the existing underground service (above grade).

Removal of the existing fire pump (with crane), fire pump controller, jockey pump and jockey pump controller, and, after sump has been backfilled, installation of new supply piping from above ground water storage tank (10' from edge of enclosure max) to new fire pump with connection to existing underground service. All new internal piping, fire pump controller, jockey pump/controller and testing upon completion. Coordination, engineering and submittals are included.

Option #2: Removal of the existing fire pump and fire pump enclosure, and installation of a new fire pump with new enclosure on the same pad.

Removal of the existing fire pump and entire enclosure (with crane), and, after sump has been backfilled, installation of new enclosure with preassembled fire pump including supply piping from above ground water storage tank (10' from edge of enclosure max) to new fire pump enclosure and connection to existing underground service. Coordination, engineering and submittals are included.

Both options will require a fair amount of work by others (excluded from our proposals) which includes but is not limited to:

Any required modifications to the existing enclosure required to remove the existing fire pumps if required.

Electrical power disconnect and reconnection.

Fire alarm disconnect and reconnection.

Filling in of the sump and providing a surface where the opening was at finish grade.

Above ground water storage tank(s) or interconnection of tanks.

Above ground tank water supply.

If the new pump house option is accepted, the removal of the concrete fill in at the base of the existing pump room.

Removal/disposal of the existing fire pump enclosure from the site. A place on-site near the existing pump enclosure/pump will be required to set the enclosure or fire pump on after removal.

Fire watch on the building during the time the system is out of service.

Any required structural calculations, or any earthwork.

Any required underground piping modifications.

For our work, any required plan-check or permit fees.

We are seeking sponsorship to help save the habitat, any financial help is appreciated or if you know someone who may have a fire pump laying around to donate!

Thank you for your time!