By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
The Seven Lakes Landowners Association is making progress on several major infrastructure and recreation projects.
The most significant milestone is the Big Juniper Lake toe drain project, which entered its final phase in May. According to SLLA board president Charlotte Kennedy, crews began focusing on erosion control, debris removal and restoring the surrounding area at the end of the months-long construction project.
The remaining work was described in an email to community members. Remaining tree stumps and debris were removed and 50 loads of fill dirt was brought in to stabilize the site and to ensure proper drainage around the completed toe drain system.
“The toe drain is in,” Kennedy said. “Now they’re doing the erosion control and making sure everything is filled in and stabilized correctly so the area drains properly and doesn’t wash away during heavy rain.”
A major undertaking for the rest of the year and beyond concerns the state-mandated Sequoia Dam project.
The large-scale construction project has drawn strong interest from contractors. As of mid-May, six vendors had expressed interest in bidding on the project. Association leaders recently hosted a vendor meeting and site visit alongside project engineer J.T. Grimes. Formal bids are due by May 28. Proposals will be reviewed by engineers and the board before a contractor is selected. If all moves according to schedule, work is anticipated to begin in the fall.
While the timeline for completion is dependent on many factors including contractor schedules and project conditions, leaders are hopeful the project can move steadily forward through the fiscal year which began May 1.
The community pool renovation also nears completion, though residents will be diving in a little later than anticipated.
Originally projected to reopen by Memorial Day weekend, the updated pool is now expected to open around mid-June following an unexpected pump failure that temporarily delayed construction.
Additional lake-area improvements are also underway, including construction of the new dock at Lake Sequoia. Weather permitting, it was expected to be completed by the end of May.
Beyond all the construction projects, Kennedy shared there is renewed energy around community involvement and volunteerism. “Its really exciting times now,” Kennedy said, “We’re trying to get everybody involved.”
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
