Transcript Aquascaping - COUNTRYCREEKHOA

Aquascaping
November 14, 2006
Country Creek HOA
Manatee County
Contents
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Pond Inventory
Compliance Assessment
Health Assessment
Pond Maintenance
Phase 1 Project
Phase 2 Project
Pond Inventory
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14 ponds, constructed in three phases
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Phase 1, ponds 1-4 and 6
Phase 2, ponds 5, and 7-12
Phase 3, ponds 13-14
All were constructed by means of a SWFWMD
environmental resource permit (ERP)
All ERPs have been turned over to CCHOA as
owner
CCHOA is now responsible for maintenance
30 acres of water surface area (approximately)
137 of 228 (60%) residences border on a pond
Aerial View
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North Pond
Central Pond
East Pond
West Pond
Arrowhead
Pond
Witt Pond
Crane Pond
Long Pond
Duck Pond
Gray Hawk Pond
Rye Road 2
Pond
Red Hawk Pond
South Pond
Rye Road 1 Pond
Compliance Assessment
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Latest inspection by HEDJ Engineering for
SWFWMD was performed on April 3 and resulted
in two findings that must be addressed through
our maintenance program:
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Sediment has partially filled the Crane Pond inflow canal
and should be stabilized by planting on the banks
All ponds with littoral shelves lack the required
vegetation and should be planted appropriately (approx.
2 acres of planting)
Next inspection must be performed in 2010
What’s a littoral shelf?
A shallow area typically located in front of the water
outflow structure, that is required to be planted so that
the vegetation filters, purifies and oxygenates the water.
Crane Pond Inflow Canal
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Sediment has
partially filled the
Crane Pond inflow
canal
Recommend not to
dig out but create
wetlands area with
appropriate plantings
Littoral Shelf Planting
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All ponds with littoral
shelves lack the
required vegetation
and should be
planted appropriately
(approx. 2 acres of
planting)
Littoral shelves are
usually located in
front of the water
outflow structure.
Littoral
shelf
Health Assessment
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Heavy algae
formation in shallow
areas during warm
weather due to lack of
aquatic plants
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Shoreline erosion due
to lack of shoreline
plantings
Health Assessment
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High infusion of
nutrients from lawns
that run up to water’s
edge.
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Nutrients and
contaminants also
flow into ponds from
street runoff.
Health Assessment
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Healthier, more
attractive ponds have
shoreline trees and
other plantings.
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Bare shorelines make
for unhealthy,
unattractive ponds.
Pond Maintenance
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Maintenance company
sprays algae with
copper sulfate to
eradicate it.
Maintenance company
sprays weed killer
along shorelines.
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Algae sinks to
bottom and becomes
nutrient for more
algae growth
Weed killer must be
applied carefully to
avoid killing
desirable vegetation
Recommendation:
• Discontinue copper sulfate treatments
• Reduce shoreline weed killer treatments slowly as we
increase shoreline plantings and reduce shoreline
grass.
Phase 1 Project: Dec ’06 – Oct ‘07
Use available CCHOA funds to:
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Initiate a community education program
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Plant and maintain littoral shelves
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Name a “steward” for each pond to coordinate community
participation in pond improvement and beautification efforts.
Pond management committee will obtain and distribute
educational materials
Encourage shoreline planting by owners and provide
necessary expertise and resources
Conduct community planting event
Contract for maintenance of aquatic plants
Plant around water inflow bibs to halt erosion
Phase 2 Project: Nov ’07 – Sep ‘08
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Apply for SWFWMD grant
Continue littoral planting
Plant shorelines
Continue community education program