Update from the GM: Wellington Pond Restoration Project Update

Stonebridge Ranch Community Association has been actively working to identify and repair water loss issues within the Wellington Ponds systems for the past two years. Throughout this process, our goal has been to address each issue methodically and responsibly, making necessary repairs while avoiding unnecessary disruption and expense whenever possible.

Work Completed to Date

Over the last two years, several significant repairs have been made throughout Wellington Ponds:

• An irrigation leak along the south side of the pond was identified and repaired.

• A leak in a transfer line was discovered. The damaged section involved a 9-inch pipe located approximately eight feet underground. Our in-house team excavated the area, located the leak, and completed the repair.

• Major repairs were made to the well serving Pond 4, including installation of a new pump, motor, and casing. This well is the sole water source that supports the Wellington ponds.

• Last spring, a leak was discovered in the pond spillway. To address the issue, PondMedics excavated a six-foot trench along the entire south side of the pond and installed layers of clay and bentonite to help seal the pond edge. Tejas Stoneworks then demolished and rebuilt the spillway structure, eliminating that source of water loss.

Why a Pond Rebuild Is Necessary

Following these repairs, staff continued monitoring water levels and determined that water was still escaping from the pond. Further investigation revealed leakage occurring through the pond bottom itself, with visible evidence of water leaving the basin.

Rebuilding the pond bottom has always been considered a last-resort solution due to the scope of the project. However, after systematically addressing all other known sources of water loss, it became clear that this final phase would be necessary to restore the pond’s long-term integrity.

What Residents Can Expect

Work is scheduled to begin at the end of July.

The project will involve:

• Draining the pond

• Relocating wildlife whenever possible

• Removing accumulated sediment

• Rebuilding the pond bottom using compacted layers of clay and bentonite

• Restoring the pond’s ability to retain water effectively

While every effort will be made to relocate wildlife, residents should be aware that some wildlife loss may occur during the process.

Construction is expected to take approximately two to three weeks, weather permitting.

Refilling the Pond

Once construction is complete, water will continue to be transferred from Pond 4 to Pond 7 as part of the normal operating process. However, rainfall will also play an important role in helping restore water levels.

The project is intentionally scheduled for late summer to avoid the rainy season and provide the best conditions for construction and soil compaction.

A Planned, Phased Approach

Throughout this project, the Association has followed a deliberate plan of action. Each repair was completed in sequence as new information became available, with the hope that earlier repairs would resolve the issue and eliminate the need for a full pond rebuild.

Every step taken, from repairing irrigation leaks and underground infrastructure to rebuilding the spillway, was necessary to identify and address the multiple sources of water loss that were discovered over time. The upcoming pond-bottom reconstruction represents the final phase of this comprehensive restoration effort and is intended to provide a long-term solution for the Wellington pond system.

This project has involved extensive investigation, monitoring, excavation, repairs, and coordination over the past two years. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Stonebridge Ranch Maintenance Team for their dedication and hard work throughout this process.