[2024-1B] Pond [STAGE 2] – Pond Level [PENDING BOARD DELIBERATIONS]

Project: 2024-1B

Status:  Pending In Board Deliberations. This item cannot proceed until project 2024-4 is completed

The pond level is controlled by a gate apparatus inside the pump drain (the big concrete circle in the middle of the pond).

That gate apparatus is manipulated by a metal assembly located within the pump drain.

This apparatus is over 20 years old, and is extremely rusted.

The pond company has advised against attempting to open the drain further via this apparatus for fear that the rusted apparatus will break during the attempt.

A failure of this nature would require an expensive replacement to be able to manipulate the water level, and may require us to drain the pond to effect the repair.

It may be possible to manipulate the water flow, and thus the pond level, by retaining a diver to go underwater and fix / manipulate the apparatus…..however …..even this is questionable.

Bottom line, we have a couple options:

1. Attempt to open the gate to raise the pond level – which carries the risk of breaking the leveling apparatus which would require a much more expensive repair (and possible draining of the pond) to be able to adjust the pond level, or

2. Don’t mess with it, and leave the pond at the current level.

Update August 19, 2024:

Foster Farms is trying a long shot fix to get the pond level up.

If this works, it may give us the latitude to defer the costly repair to the water control apparatus.