Detention and retention pond construction that controls stormwater and meets site requirements.
Detention ponds keep stormwater off the streets and out of the foundations in Universal City, and the ones near Randolph AFB carry extra weight because so much of the surrounding development, from base housing to the neighborhoods along Forest Crest and Northview, depends on them working every time it rains. A basin that is silted in or slow to drain is not just an eyesore for a board or a property manager to explain, it is a drainage problem waiting for the next storm.
Thin clay sits over bedrock through most of this part of Bexar County, and that combination does not let water soak in the way sandier soil would. We see it show up the same way basin after basin: a forebay choked with silt because the water never had anywhere to go, slow drawdown that leaves standing water for days after a storm, bare patches on the embankment where grass never took, and volunteer trees working their roots into slopes that were never meant to hold them. An outlet structure clogged with debris from an older, heavily wooded property like Olympia Hills can turn a routine rain event into a real headache.
Working with Corral Bros on a Universal City detention pond starts with a site walk, not a sales pitch. We look at the whole system, the inlet, the slopes, the outlet, and tell you plainly what is going on and what it will take to fix it. From there we handle the excavation, grading, erosion control, and structure work to get the basin performing the way it was designed to, working alongside your property engineer where the plan calls for it, and staying out of the way of the people living or working on site.
We're a local, family-built company that treats your Universal City property like our own, tidy crews, clear pricing, and detention ponds that holds up to Bexar County conditions. Available as a one-time project or part of an ongoing plan.
A detention pond temporarily holds stormwater runoff and releases it slowly, so a developed site doesn't flood downstream neighbors or overwhelm storm drains. Most Central Texas commercial sites, subdivisions and larger developments are required to have detention as part of their drainage permit.
A detention pond drains down to empty between storms and is dry most of the time, while a retention pond holds a permanent pool of water. We build and maintain both, choosing the right one based on your site's soils, drainage requirements and available space.
We schedule a free on-site visit, usually within 48 hours of your call, and walk the basin with whoever manages the property, whether that is a board member, a community association manager, or a facility manager. We look at the inlet, the forebay, the slopes, and the outlet structure, and talk through what is causing the problem before we price anything. You get a clear scope based on what we actually find in your basin.
It depends on the age of the basin and how much silt and vegetation it is carrying, but many of the older detention ponds around Forest Crest and Northview are due for grading, slope stabilization, or outlet work every few years. Thin clay over bedrock slows drainage and lets sediment build up faster than people expect, so basins that look fine from the road often need attention at the forebay and outlet sooner than the schedule suggests.
We stage equipment and materials to keep basin access separate from parking areas, resident traffic, and tenant entrances wherever the site allows it. In HOA and apartment settings near Randolph AFB we coordinate timing with the property manager or board so grading and excavation do not block daily routines. Most of the work happens within the basin footprint itself, which keeps disruption to the surrounding property to a minimum.
Thin clay over bedrock does not absorb water quickly, so basins here tend to show slow drawdown, silted forebays, and bare or eroding slopes once vegetation thins out. Heavy, short bursts of rain common to this part of Bexar County move a lot of sediment into the pond fast, which is why inlet and outlet structures and riprap placement matter as much as the excavation itself. We grade and stabilize with that drainage pattern in mind, not a generic slope.
The amount of excavation and regrading needed, how much the slopes have eroded or grown over, and the condition of the inlet, outlet, and outfall structures all factor into the price. Jobs that need riprap, a new liner, or spillway work cost more than straightforward reshaping and erosion control. We price every job after the site walk, once we know what is actually going on in your basin.
Free, no-pressure estimate from a local crew. Call (737) 404-9343 or request a quote online.
