Thurston Groves HOA

Neighbors, Friends and Homeowners: I would like to share with you some recent upgrades we have made to our community and a potential issue we will face in the near future. First, I’m pleased to report the Pond Landscape Project is just about completed. All but four trees have been planted around the pond and the remaining four are scheduled to be planted this week. The project came in on budget and I hope you agree this project adds a senses of completion to our landscaping of the common area. I would like to thank Bob Jahnke (VP) and Penny Hart (Landscape Committee) for all of the hard hands on work in completion of this undertaking.

Unfortunately I must advise you of an issue we are facing with our pond area. If you have not had an opportunity to walk around the pond I would advise you to do so. The water level of the pond has been difficulty to stabilize during this dry season but I’m pleased with the water level today and the overall condition of the pond area with the exception of the shoreline. You will note as you walk around the pond and in the attached pictures, we are starting to see a significant amount of shoreline erosion. If this situation is not resolved, the erosion will continue to eat into the bank and over time we may loose our entire bank. Most recently I met with an environmental biologist and a contractor who deals with these situation on a frequent basis. It’s both of their independent opinions that our choices are to repair the shoreline or watch it erode over time. Watching it erode over time is not an option in my mind. The option to correct the problem permanently is to have a sea wall or crushed stone wall around the edge of the pond which will immediately stop any further erosion.

It should be pointed out that this problem is not unique to our pond. The reason we see such rapid erosion in our pond is the result of the slope of the bank, the sandy soil under the grass and a non-native catfish called and “armored catfish” which digs into the bank to lay its eggs. As your President, I will be providing the Board additional information on what all is involved in correcting this problem. I bring this to your attention because the price tag to correct this problem is likely to be in the $60,000/$75,000 range. More to follow. Best regards,

Dan Hester
10241 Citation Ct.
Seminole, Fl. 33778