Residents report persistent Pinehurst drainage, board directs engineer inspection

Resident Shari Perkins told the River Ridge Community Development District board on July 23 that drainage problems near the Pinehurst monument persist a week after a plugged pipe was addressed, and that a retention pond between River 8 and River 9 appears non-functional and is ponding nearly 1 foot above the drain. She asked the board to consider work on two drains at the left and right sides of the Pinehurst monument and said fellow resident Fred Kronke had raised concerns about the retention pond.

A board member asked whether there was video of water bubbling from the drain; Perkins said she had several photographs and agreed to provide video footage to district staff. Resident Ed Nowak asked about the location of the outflow on the northern end of Pinehurst Greens Drive and the end of the pipe. District Manager Chuck Adams said the water flows to the Estero River via pipes that run between houses, across the street, across the golf course and into a ditch that runs down to the River Club.

District Engineer John Baker explained that before the inlet was plugged water from a separate system was backing up and flowing through into a lower system; plugging removed the pushing action but left water with no place to go, creating what he described as “a very tiny pond in a pipe.” Baker said resolving the issue will likely require additional study and emphasized the need for photographs or video of any observed flooding to help staff diagnose and design a fix. The board directed the district engineer to view the drainage firsthand and follow up.

Next steps: Perkins will provide photos and video to CDD staff; District staff will ask the district engineer to inspect the Pinehurst drains and produce recommendations at a future meeting.