Residents report ongoing Pinehurst drainage and ponding; board directs engineer to investigate

Residents at the River Ridge Community Development District meeting on July 23 told supervisors that persistent drainage problems around the Pinehurst monument and a nearby retention pond risk localized flooding.

Resident Shari Perkins reported that a week after street drains were plugged the drainage issue persisted and water was “overflowing in the triangle monument area,” and she relayed that another resident, Fred Kronke, reported a retention pond between River 8 and River 9 appearing non‑functional and ponding nearly a foot above the drain. Perkins said she has photographs and agreed to provide video to district staff to document the problem.

District Engineer John Baker explained that before the inlet was plugged water from a different system was pushing through the pipe into a lower system; with the inlet closed there is “no place for the water to go,” creating what he described as the equivalent of a very small pond inside the pipe. Baker said resolving the issue will likely require additional study and recommended staff collect photographs or video to aid diagnosis.

Board members asked for on‑site inspection and directed staff to have the district engineer view the drainage firsthand. District Manager Mr. Adams said staff will accept Perkins’ images and video and follow up. No formal motion or funding decision was taken at the meeting; the board directed further study and inspection.

The exchange included a separate question from resident Ed Nowak about the northern outflow location on Pinehurst Greens Drive; Adams said the pipes run between houses, across the golf course and into a ditch that leads to the River Club and ultimately to the Estero River.

Next steps: the district engineer will inspect the drainage areas identified by residents and staff will report findings and any proposed repairs at a future meeting.