ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Residents living along a newly constructed lake are blaming developers for not holding up their end of the bargain and allowing the lake to remain bone dry for months.
The lake is part of the Las Calinas neighborhood development off U.S. 1 in St. Johns County, but it also backs up to properties on Holland Drive in the Kensington neighborhood.
The developer, Pulte Homes, is responsible for the lake, residents said.
“As you can see, there are dead cattails and other vegetation that when we first moved here, not even eight months ago, (it was filled with water),” Kensington resident Clifford Broadnax said.
Broadnax said pictures showing how much water was once in the lake are proof of his point.
At the start of the lake project in 2013, the water level was well over 5 feet deeo, but now has receded to the point that a boat on the lake is basically dry docked.
Broadnax said the lake was constructed in three sections with berms separating each section. He said the area behind his home was used as a storage pond, where water was kept while the other two sections were dug out.
He said once those sections were complete and the berms were removed, an almost dry strip of the lake is what is left.
Broadnax feels the dry lake is hurting property values, and so do other residents.
“It looks like a crater. It's unhealthy. It has taken away from our property values, and it takes away the enjoyment of sitting and enjoying our backyards,” Kensington resident Amy O'Farrell said.
Residents said the lake property was sold in the middle of the project to Pulte homes, the new developers.
News4Jax reached out to Pulte for comment, but we haven’t heard back.
St. Johns County spokesman Michael Ryan released a statement Tuesday:
“St. Johns County is aware of status of the lake and is monitoring the water levels. We are also working with the developers of the project to ensure it is in compliance with all applicable laws and ordinances related to the project. Northeast Florida is currently experiencing abnormally dry conditions and the pond is anticipated to be replenished once that trend subsides.”
Officials said they hope residents can be patient as the area moves into a rainier season.
But the homeowners want the developers to dig their strip of the lake deeper or fill it back up with dirt if it can’t be filled with water.
St. Johns County officials said they have been monitoring the lake to make sure it doesn’t pose a health risk. At this point, officials said, it does not.