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ram. <br />CITY'{ OF <br />JINOKE <br />Memorandum <br />To: Residents Near Birchwood Acres Pond <br />From: Andy Nelson, Environmental Coordinator <br />Date: 5/16/22 <br />Re: Birchwood Acres Pond <br />Stormwater ponds are designed to provide water quality and water quantity treatment for <br />stormwater runoff to prevent pollutants from reaching lakes, rivers, and streams. When <br />these ponds are first constructed, the water will be relatively clear because there are <br />initially few pollutants. As fertilizer, salt, pet waste, and other pollutants accumulate <br />over time, the ponds can become green and may have an odor. This is typical of <br />stormwater ponds and an indication that the pond is performing as intended and capturing <br />pollutants that would otherwise head to surface waters. <br />City staff have received feedback from concerned residents regarding the aesthetic <br />quality of storm pond RLA-010-B located in Birchwood Acres Park. This pond treats <br />stormwater runoff from nearly 70 properties located primarily on Hawthorn Road and <br />Lonesome Pine Trail in the Park Grove development. <br />The main concerns include the vegetation that covers the surface of the pond and odor. <br />The vegetation present on this pond is primarily duckweed, which provides water <br />purification by incorporating nutrients. It is also an important food source for wildlife. <br />The odor is primarily due to decomposition of plants and algae. <br />In response to residents' concerns, city staff took steps to ensure the pond was <br />functioning properly. The city also initiated water quality sampling to check phosphorous <br />levels in September of 2020. The phosphorous detected was at levels typical for <br />stormwater ponds. <br />