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Resident urges more testing, scrutiny of stormwater runoff into Reeds Lake from proposed development
Summary
A resident said the city should do more lake water testing now and not assume existing detention ponds will remove pollutants before they enter Reeds Lake, and asked the commission to require testing for heavy metals and PFAS before development proceeds.
Nancy Patterson of 2104 Gorham Drive told the City Commission on Aug. 18 she is concerned that a proposed nearby development, described by speakers as a "several acre concrete jungle," could increase stormwater runoff into Reeds Lake and that current detention ponds may not remove contaminants.
Patterson said she asked the person who conducts water-quality testing on Reeds Lake about how the city would detect any changes. The tester replied she had not heard of the development and did not know whether runoff would flow through a culvert or generally toward the lake, which affects how easy it would be to measure pollutants. Patterson said she could find no information on testing for heavy metals or PFAS compounds in the lake.
"Detention ponds slow the movement of stormwater more to prevent flooding and often not enough to allow all the debris to be removed," Patterson said. She contrasted detention ponds with retention ponds, which hold water long enough for more debris to settle out. Patterson told commissioners the city has four detention ponds and no retention ponds and asked the city to plan testing that would allow the detection of new pollutants and to require remediation by the developer if the development adds contaminants to the lake. "Stuff runs downhill," she added.
No staff response or formal action on the development or additional testing was recorded at the Aug. 18 meeting; commissioners received the comment during public comment and did not vote on any related item that evening.
Patterson asked the commission to ensure monitoring occurs before construction so that any changes can be measured and attributed to the development if necessary.
