Residents tell River Ridge board drainage fixes needed after plugged pipe caused ponding

Shari Perkins, a River Ridge resident, told the board on July 23 that a week after workers plugged a street drain water was still overflowing near the Pinehurst triangle monument and a retention pond between River 8 and River 9 appeared “nearly 1’ above the drain.”

“This is still happening a week after the pipe was plugged,” Perkins said, and asked the Board to consider addressing the two drains on the left and right sides of the Pinehurst monument.

District Engineer John Baker said the initial repair stopped water from one system backing up into another, but that removing the inlet’s pushing action has left “essentially a very tiny pond in a pipe.” He recommended additional study of the drainage system and asked residents to provide photographs or video documenting overflow events.

A board member asked whether there is video showing water bubbling out of the drain; Perkins said she has several photographs and will obtain video footage and provide it to CDD staff. The Board directed the District Engineer to view the drainage firsthand to assess causes and potential fixes.

Resident Ed Nowak asked about the location of the outflow on the northern end of Pinehurst Greens Drive. District Manager Chuck Adams explained that water ultimately flows into the Estero River and described the pipe routing across private property, the golf course and into the River Club ditch.

Next steps: staff will collect resident-provided photos/video, the District Engineer will inspect the site, and the Board will retain the Pinehurst inlet repair estimate on the agenda pending further proposals and study.