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Flood control, mosquito haven, marsh, eyesore, or hazardous?

Beazer Homes flood control great for Beazer development but not for the rest of the community

Nearly two years ago, The NEWS talked with a representative of the Beazer Home development just east of Rio Linda Blvd. and south of U Street in Rio Linda about their plans for flood control. The NEWS questioned their flood control project from its onset.

In the rainy season, the channel they dug out is flooded with water that is supposed to have a controlled drainage under Rio Linda Blvd. Our concern in the rainy season was the fact that we observed children playing in their manmade swamp that has no restrictive fences around it. The NEWS also felt that not only should it be fenced, but there should be some type of landscaping along Rio Linda Blvd. to block the view of it.
Now that the rains have stopped, there are pools of standing water where mosquitoes breed. According to a recently published County Employee Newsletter, we still should be concerned about West Nile Virus.
One of the reasons the pond doesn't drain completely is that the ground elevation on the west side of Rio Linda' Blvd. is higher than the east side which also causes standing water on the west side of the boulevard.
To make matters worse, there is a gravel roadway around the north side of the pond and cars from the tract of homes have been observed using it as a short cut to get on Rio Linda Blvd.

Maybe a better flood control plan would be to keep the pond full of water all year around and when the rains come, have a gate that can be opened to let excess water run out under Rio Linda Blvd. Of course, it still should be fenced and be landscaped.

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