Resident reports persistent Pinehurst drainage, board directs engineer to inspect

Shari Perkins, a River Ridge resident, told the Board on July 23 that drainage problems near the Pinehurst triangle monument have continued a week after one pipe was plugged and that water is overflowing at the monument; she said resident Fred Kronke reported a retention pond between River 8 and River 9 that appears non-functional, with ponding nearly one foot above the drain.

John Baker, the District Engineer, said the inlet that was plugged had been allowing water from another system to push into a lower system; plugging stopped that transfer but left no outlet, creating a small, effectively ponded condition in the pipe. Baker said resolving the issue will likely require additional study and asked that residents document flooding with photographs or video to assist staff in diagnosing the problem.

A Board member asked whether there is video of water bubbling out of the drain; Perkins said she would obtain footage and provide it to CDD staff. The Board directed the District Engineer to view the drainage firsthand and to report back. Mr. Adams clarified that the outflow ultimately goes to the Estero River and described the route of the pipes across houses, the street, the golf course and into the ditch running to the River Club.

Mr. Baker and staff emphasized that further field observation and study are needed before a definitive repair plan can be adopted. The Board did not vote on repairs at the meeting and left the Pinehurst inlet/pipe repair and potential further estimates on the agenda for future consideration.