Fountains, Dam, and Raging River
Why did everything seem to have gone wrong at once?
Many of you have been asking about the status of the Entrance Pond fountains, the “Raging
River,” and the water levels in our ponds. These are all interrelated, and quite a bit has been
happening behind the scenes, and we’d like to provide an update.
Why are the fountains off?
Most of you have noticed that the Entrance Pond is unusually low. The Pond depends on a
transfer pump to move water from the Pier Pond, which in turn creates water flow down the
channel between the two ponds, the so-called “Raging River”. As the transfer pump is not
working and the water level is currently so low, we have turned off the fountains to prevent
them drawing debris from the bottom of the pond and further damaging the fountains’
equipment.
As described below, the entire waterflow system between the Entrance Pond and the Pier Pond
has been affected by several significant problems requiring repair.
Weir Dam Breach
The difficulties began with discovery, in January, of a Weir Dam Breach. The Weir Dam is the
dam which holds water at the last section of the Raging River channel. The embankment
adjacent to the weir dam between the Pier Pond and the forebay had been breached. We
believe an otter den (known as a holt) weakened the embankment, allowing water to bypass
the dam instead of flowing over it. As more water escaped around the dam, erosion worsened.
After meeting with several contractors, we approached Prince William County. The County
determined that the dam is part of the storm water system and therefore agreed to perform
the repairs at no cost to us. We are hopeful that work will begin within the next few weeks.
To help minimize further erosion while awaiting repairs, we significantly reduced operation of
the transfer pump.
Repairs to the “Raging River”
While the transfer pump was shut down, we discovered significant deterioration of the liner
installed by Toll Brothers in the series of pools that create the cascading water feature of the
“Raging River.” The liner had developed cracks and bubbles, reducing its ability to protect
against erosion.
We then experienced difficulty finding a contractor willing to make the repairs. The County
recommended three firms that might be able to do the work. One never responded to our
inquiries and another indicated it did not have the proficiency to accomplish the work. The
third was a company (Solitude) we work with a great deal. Solitude brought in a potential sub-
contractor that was very knowledgeable and informative about the work required, butindicated the project was smaller than his normal work. Solitude indicated he had mentioned avery steep price, and then failed to return Solitude’s calls or provide a proposal.
Finally, Solitude suggested another sub-contractor who explained the need for a new, heavy-
duty fabric liner covered with river stones and submitted a proposal. The work has been
completed and should provide much better long-term protection. However, the water is not
yet flowing over the channel, as we must await receipt and installation of the transfer pump.
Pier Pond Water-Level Controls
During the same period, we experienced problems with the automatic system that maintains
the water level in the Pier Pond. The electrical control box had fallen from its mounting location
and slid down the embankment by the well, damaging the wiring. The box was found in the
natural environment where it was substantially wet. Once the control box was reinstalled and
the wiring repaired, the float valve that automatically regulates the pond’s water level also
failed, likely due to an electrical short.
To keep the pond from dropping too low, the system was temporarily placed in manual mode.
Unfortunately, only the “fill” function worked properly, while the automatic shutoff did not. As
a result, the pond is being overfilled, causing some excess water to discharge into Catharpin
Creek until the problem is corrected.
Transfer Pump Failure
Although we limited use of the transfer pump to reduce erosion at the weir dam, we
periodically operated it to circulate water through the “Raging River” and help control algae
growth and mosquito larva. However, following one of the severe storms that moved through
our area, the transfer pump experienced a major electrical failure.
Our contractor found a damaged capacitor and melted wiring, suggesting the damage may have
been caused by a nearby lightning strike or power surge. The contractor replaced the damaged
components and installed a surge protector. Although the pump initially operated after the
repairs, it failed again only a few hours later. Further investigation determined that the pump
itself had also been damaged, most likely by the same electrical event, and must now be
replaced. As indicated above, the pump is on order and will be installed by our contractor once
received.
Summary of Current StatusHere’s where things stand today:
Prince William County is expected to repair the weir dam breach in the coming weeks
Repairs to the “Raging River” have been completed
The failed float valve that regulates the Pier Pond water level is being replaced
A replacement transfer pump has been ordered and will be installed when received
We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work through these unexpected
challenges. Although the issues have been numerous and, in many cases, unrelated, each has required careful coordination. We look forward to restoring normal operation of our ponds and
water features as soon as all repairs are complete.