Residents press River Ridge CDD to study Pinehurst drainage after ponding near monument

At the River Ridge Community Development District meeting on July 23, 2024, residents urged the board to address persistent drainage problems in the Pinehurst area after water continued to pond near a triangle monument and a retention pond between River 8 and River 9.

Resident Shari Perkins told the board that a week after a plugged pipe, water has been overflowing near the Pinehurst monument and that a retention pond is "nearly 1 foot above the drain," increasing the risk of localized flooding. Perkins said she would provide photographs and video to CDD staff to show the accumulation and help diagnose the problem.

District Engineer John Baker explained that prior to plugging the inlet, water from one system was flowing into a lower system; the inlet was plugged to stop that cross‑flow, "but there is no place for the water to go and it is essentially akin to a very tiny pond in a pipe," and "it will likely require additional study," he said. District Manager Chuck Adams told attendees that the pipes in the affected area ultimately discharge into the Estero River after running between houses, across the golf course and into the ditch by the River Club.

Board members asked for photographic or video evidence to support field investigation; Perkins agreed to provide the footage to staff. The Board directed the District Engineer to visit the area and inspect the drains firsthand and noted staff will seek additional contractor proposals for a Pinehurst inlet top to reduce debris, including an estimate from MRI Construction for $10,692.88 that staff is reviewing.

Next steps: staff will accept Perkins’s photos/video, the District Engineer will inspect the site, and the inlet‑top estimate will remain on the agenda while the Board considers additional proposals and study results.