Residents report persistent drainage and ponding in Pinehurst; engineer to inspect

At a July 23 meeting of the River Ridge Community Development District, residents urged the board to address ongoing drainage problems near the Pinehurst monument and a nearby retention pond that is pooling nearly a foot above its drain.

Resident Shari Perkins said a week after a pipe was plugged, “the drainage issues persist; water has been overflowing in the triangle monument area,” and relayed that resident Fred Kronke reported ponding between River 8 and River 9 that appears non-functional. Perkins said she would supply photographs and video of water accumulating over the drain to district staff.

District Engineer John Baker told the board the original issue — water from one system backing into another — was addressed when the inlet was plugged, but that plugging removed a pushing action and left water with “no place for the water to go,” creating what he described as “a very tiny pond in a pipe.” Baker said resolving the remaining flooding will likely require additional study and recommended documenting flooding with photos or video to help staff resolve the issue.

Board members asked whether there is video showing water bubbling from the drain and directed staff to have the District Engineer view the drainage situation firsthand. District Manager Chuck Adams explained that the pipes in question run between two houses, across the street and the golf course before draining into the ditch that runs to the Estero River.

The board did not approve construction or contract work at the meeting; staff will collect the resident-provided photos/video and report findings and recommendations to the board at a future meeting.