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River Ridge CDD discusses storm-surge resilience, drainage complaints and NPDES reporting
Summary
The board heard a resident's report of slab moisture and mold tied to ponding and approved a blanket drainage easement template, while staff reported the Lee County NPDES annual report will be submitted to FDEP before Nov. 1; Eric Long urged long-term storm-surge planning after modeling showed major community exposure.
At the Oct. 22 meeting Oak Run resident Lynda Sorensen told the board she discovered high moisture under her home slab, buckling of master bedroom flooring and mold. She said inspections ruled out plumbing and HVAC failures and a leak-detection specialist recommended perimeter drain tiles and 5–10 foot downspout extensions; she asked the CDD and the HOA to coordinate a remedy.
District Engineer Charlie Krebs explained that drainage in the area in question was not originally installed because the property was part of an indigenous preserve and, after rezoning, became club land not originally included in the water management system. Mrs. Adams noted that installation of drain tiles is typically an HOA matter.
The board approved a proposed blanket Grant of Easement for drainage from the Pelican Sound Golf & Racquet Club (PSGRC) to the River Ridge CDD and agreed that future, specific grants will include sketches and legal descriptions for board consideration. Mr. Krebs said he is preparing two additional drainage easements (for Seaside II and the golf course area).
On storm resilience, Eric Long described a multi-objective plan and proposed an advisory/review panel to coordinate with state, county and Village agencies; he asked the CDD to designate board and staff representatives to assist. Long said modeling for a hypothetical Hurricane Milton scenario suggested a 10–12 foot storm surge could have flooded an estimated 45%–55% of the community, underscoring the need for long-term planning and possible partnerships.
Mark Zordan of Johnson Engineering reported that the Lee County NPDES Permit FLS000035-004 Cycle 4 Year 7 Annual Report has been filed with Lee County and will be submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline; staff will continue into Year 8 while awaiting release of a new permit and will monitor possible changes to sampling requirements.
Why it matters: Resident property damage and ponding point to unresolved drainage responsibilities between HOAs, club property and the district; NPDES compliance and potential changes to sampling may affect ongoing pond management and reporting obligations. The board asked staff and counsel to continue work on legal descriptions, sketches and interagency coordination.
