Settlement Ponds
Lake Powell Forest has two settlement ponds for which the HOA is responsible. JCC caries out an inspection of the ponds on a rotational basis throughout the county. There are over 600 ponds inspected in a 5 year cycle. Our last inspection was in September this year, which raised some items for rectification. The BOD is now considering how best to rectify the shortcomings..
[Eastern pond photographed through the spillway]
The main items requiring rectification, were:
Settlement Pond in Lake Powell Forest at the end of King Rook Court
main points
- Principal Spillway: Low flow orifice or weir is clogged
- Emergency Spillway: Trash or debris in spillway
- Embankments: Woody vegetation within 10 feet of embankment
- Routine Maintenance: Embankment access right of ways or forebay needs mowing to a minimum grass height of 6-8 inches
Additional Comments:
Embankment (dam) needs to have all saplings and small trees cut flush with the ground, leave roots in place. It then needs to be mowed and maintained at a height of 6-8 inches from the toe of the exterior slope to the waterline on the interior slope . All debris should be removed from the slopes of the dam but can be brush-piled at the exterior base away from the slope. Care needs to be taken to not disturb the compacted soil on the dam. This area should be mowed at least twice a year to maintain grass at a height of 6-8 inches. The low water orifice is partially clogged with debris and needs to be cleared and opened.
[Western Pond, photo taken from within the spillway]
main points (similar to the first pond)
Additional Comments:
Embankment (dam) needs to have all saplings and small trees cut flush with the ground, leave roots in place. It then needs to be mowed and maintained at a height of 6-8 inches from the toe of the exterior slope to the waterline on the interior slope . All debris should be removed from the slopes of the dam but can be brush-piled at the exterior base away from the slope. Care needs to be taken to not distrub the compacted soil on the dam. This area should be mowed at least twice a year to a height of 6-8 inches. The low water orifice should be examined and any debris should be removed.
[Eastern Pond, photo taken from the 'dam']
Some notes on stormwater management from JCC
BMPs (Best Management Practices) Facilities are important elements in the protection of our watersheds, vital natural filters that help protect our waterways, rivers and streams.
The goal of the PRIDE watershed education program is to improve water quality in James City County by teaching residents about the importance of watershed protection while providing residents and neighborhoods with specific watershed restoration and protection tools.
The use of stormwater management/BMP practices which delay, capture, store, treat, filter or infiltrate stormwater runoff is a commonly used tool for watershed protection.
Stormwater Retention Basin - A stormwater management facility which includes a permanent impoundment or normal pool of water for the purpose of enhancing water quality and therefore is normally wet, even during nonrainfall periods. Storm runoff inflows may be temporarily stored above this permanent impoundment for the purpose of reducing flooding or stream channel erosion. (Source: Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook)