Residents tell River Ridge board drainage fixes needed as ponding persists at Pinehurst

Residents raised continued flooding concerns in the Pinehurst area at the River Ridge Community Development District meeting on July 23.

Resident Shari Perkins told the board that a week after a street drain was plugged the problem remained, with "water has been overflowing in the triangle monument area" and asked the board to address two drains at the Pinehurst monument. Perkins relayed that resident Fred Kronke reported a retention pond that drains between River 8 and River 9 "appears to be non-functional; ponding is occurring and is nearly 1’ above the drain," a condition he said he fears could lead to flooding.

District Engineer John Baker said the initial problem — water from one system backing into another — was addressed by plugging an inlet, but that created a condition where there is no place for water to flow and the plugged pipe can act "akin to a very tiny pond in a pipe." Baker said resolving the issue will "likely require additional study" and asked residents to provide photographs or video to help staff evaluate the flooding. Perkins said she would obtain video and provide it to CDD staff.

A board member asked whether there was video showing water bubbling out of the drain; Perkins said she had several photographs of water accumulating. The Board agreed to direct the District Engineer to view the drainage firsthand and to follow up once staff and the engineer have reviewed resident-supplied photos and video.

The board did not adopt an immediate remedy at the meeting; staff will coordinate an engineering review and return with recommendations.