Residents press River Ridge board to address Pinehurst drainage, retention-pond concerns

At its July 23 regular meeting, residents urged the River Ridge Community Development District to investigate persistent drainage problems at the Pinehurst monument and a nearby retention pond.

Resident Shari Perkins reported that a week after a pipe was plugged, water continues to overflow in the triangle monument area and asked the Board to address two drains on the left and right sides of the Pinehurst monument. Perkins also relayed an email from resident Fred Kronke reporting that a retention pond draining between River 8 and River 9 appears non-functional and showed ponding nearly 1 foot above the drain.

District Engineer John Baker said the original repair stopped water from one system backing into another but left ‘‘no place for the water to go’’ and described the remaining condition as ‘‘essentially akin to a very tiny pond in a pipe.’’ He said resolving the issue will likely require additional study and photographic or video documentation. The Board asked Perkins to provide video and directed the District Engineer to view the drainage firsthand.

Operations and staff discussed possible causes including rain events, blocked inlets, gutter runoff and the configuration of pipes that run between houses, across the golf course and into the ditch that drains to the Estero River. Resident Ed Nowak asked about the actual outflow location on the northern end of Pinehurst Greens Drive; staff responded that the system ultimately drains to the Estero River and described the pipe routing across the property.

No formal motion to authorize immediate repairs was recorded at the meeting; the Board left the item on the agenda for follow-up and instructed staff and the district engineer to investigate and report back.