Lack of enforcement is jeopardizing reservoir

Dear Editor,

For those who are not sure about who's right and who's wrong when it comes to water quality or the phosphorus levels, or even how well the county is or isn't enforcing the Upper Swift Creek Plan, come to Lakepointe. It's like living in Camelot with a cesspool as the mote. If you want to see how our water quality is being sacrificed by developer after developer and how inept the county's enforcement of the present code [is], take a ride down Duckridge Blvd.

The BMP [ponds that collect runoff] on our property is approximately three-quarters of an acre in size, but it's not for Lakepointe's use. We are getting the runoff from the Winterpock Shopping Center, Firestone, Goodyear, Wendy's, Rite-Aid and both sides of Hull Street Road [including] the new construction for Hancock Village. When it rains, our pond becomes a sea of bright orange. We get a collection of trash that will fill several large bags just from the shoreline. Last week, we found a beer can with six syringes stuffed inside.

This pond is only about 35 yards from the reservoir, and when it rains, the pond overflows. Last year, due to the enormous flow of silt, we developed an island in the pond. Following numerous calls, the county reluctantly had someone dredge about one-third of the pond. With the ever increasing runoff, we have another island.

Once again I complained, and on Aug. 10, three employees from the company [working on the turn lanes for Hancock Village] slipped in, and when I asked, I was told the silt was not theirs. Then we had the big storm on Aug. 16, and our spillway looked like a Category 5 rapids run. Again I called the county. This time two employees came from the company that is overseeing the [Hancock Village] project. Surprisingly, they agreed we have a problem, and said they would take steps to have it corrected. I have been informed they are going to attempt to vacuum the silt. Vacuuming the silt just pushes the problem off until the next rain.

Who really cares about water quality enough to solve the problem, stop the out-of-control growth, and plan for drinkable water for the generations to come? Do the candidates running for the board of supervisors or is all the talk just to get your vote? Until the average Chesterfield resident draws a glass of water that looks like my pond, I don't think we can count on them. We hear that wetlands need to be preserved, and yet the county allows developers to go to a so-called land bank and buy their way into using wetlands. If a developer feels he can't meet the pollution standards, he can go to the county and pay pollution money and once again circumvent the rules. All a developer has to do is throw a little money around and it looks like a feeding frenzy at the zoo.

Is allowing unchecked rezoning the price we all must pay to see Chesterfield destroyed? We need to stop allowing our county officials to continue this foot-dragging and give us a [land use] plan that will put us on track to correct our water, transportation and land use problems. Then we must demand enforcement without exception.

Jerry Stroud

Lakepointe