Kiawah Island Digest May 2019 | Page 7

KIAWAH ISLAND DIGEST | 7 POND EDGE PRUNING UNDERWAY ACROSS THE ISLAND Maintenance for Pond Health KICA’s Lakes Management team has put together a multi-year project for the health of the island’s pond system, which serves as the master drainage system for the island. Over the years, the vegetation around some of the ponds has grown significantly, becoming problematic for both water quality and drainage. The goal of this project is to improve pond health and water quality while optimizing the drainage function of the pond system. The ponds scheduled for 2019 have been selected with the following conditions in mind: • significant quantities of live and dead debris present in or growing out over the water, • a history of poor water quality issues, to include fish kills and/or hydrogen sulfide events, • or they are part of the Beachwalker drainage basin, the main artery for water flow for one of the island’s largest drainage basins. KICA has spent significant funds over the past several years working on the Beachwalker drainage basin, both in pipe repair and spot excavation. Cutting back overgrowth in pond vegetation is another step in protecting our financial investment in this drainage basin. For 2019, the project will occur in the following ponds: • Pond 24 – at Bittern Court, Red Bay Road, Palm Warbler Road and Catbrier Court, along Cougar Point Golf Course holes 12 and 13. • Pond 27 – at Amaranth Road and Green Winged Teal Road, the Oceanwoods neighborhood and the Sora Rail Road utility area. • Pond 29 – by the Night Heron Cottages neighborhood and the Sora Rail Road utility area. • Pond 30 – by 71 and 73 Salthouse Lane and the Kiawah Island Parkway. The project began in April with pond 24, where the general scope of work focused on the cutting and removal of vegetation falling into the pond. After pond 24, the contractor will move to pond 27, followed by ponds 29 and 30. KICA’s contractor will be working within the pond and within our easement area. 95% of what will be targeted for this work are wax myrtles that are growing out over the ponds. Our contractor will cut back canopy which has closed in over areas of the selected ponds, in order to permit sunlight back to the pond, as well as cut back overgrown shoreline vegetation which is depositing debris in the pond. KICA does not intend to impact screening vegetation for homes. KICA’s contractor will be working within the island’s normal commercial hours. If you have questions about this project, contact KICA biologist Matt Hill at [email protected] or 843-768-2315.