Maynard Pond Landscape Maintenance Plan

FINAL AND APPROVED
JANUARY 2009

GOAL

Homeowners and residents take pride of common grounds as a focal point of Coronado Village subdivision, enjoying both passive leisure activities and increasing property values.

OBJECTIVE

Implement attractive sustainable and prudent low-maintenance strategies on grounds for leisure activities, with emphasis on safety, nature, wildlife; moderate fishing activities; storm water retention; and environmental stewardship.

LAND USE ZONING

The entire property is zoned “Resource Conservation” and nearly all of the land is within the Neuse River Riparian Buffer.

MAINTENANCE PLAN

Maintenance zones have been delineated for the property. The zones are shown on a map that accompanies this document. Current conditions and desired outcomes are listed below.

Zone A, Shoreline: CVHOA Lake Analysis Report recommends a fringe of soft grassy material be allowed to grow, this is not unattractive and it provides shoreline stabilization. See Cleanwater.Org Postcard as attachment to this document (to be added). The fringe will be serviced twice a year to keep woody material from growing. Planting or maintenance of a few 100 square foot areas along the shore will protect and improve the appearance of the shoreline and provide cover for fish.

Zone B, South: Area has mostly open tree canopy with mix of small ornamental trees, a maple, an oak, and a loblolly pine. Ground cover is grass. Zone B is one of two main open space areas around the pond. Scheduled mowing of grass and trim will occur every 14 days March – October; Other items include removal of poison ivy and minor pruning of small shrubs and trees.

  • B1, South Planting Bed along Coronado Way: Volunteer Member Maintains Attractive Appearance
  • B2, South Stop Sign at Coronado and Warren: Volunteer Member Maintains Attractive Appearance
  • B3, South Entrance at Warren and Walnut: Volunteer Member Maintains Attractive Appearance
  • B4, South Planting Bed along Coronado Way: Volunteer Member Maintains Attractive Appearance
  • B5, South Planting Bed Farm Equipment: Volunteer Member Maintains Attractive Appearance

Zone C, North: Area has mostly open tree canopy with mix of large trees, a group of oaks to the east, and several large sweet gums to the west. Ground cover is grass. Zone C is one of two main open space areas around the pond. Scheduled mowing of grass and trim will occur every 14 days March – October; Other items include removal of poison ivy and minor pruning of small shrubs and trees.  Plant warm season grass with top soil in bare spots.

  • C1, Northwest Planting Bed 1st West of Penny: Retire Bed, Allow Tree to Mature
  • C2, North Central Planting Bed at Penny:  Volunteer Member Maintains Attractive Appearance
  • C3, Northeast Planting Bed 1st East of Penny: Volunteer Member Maintains Attractive Appearance
  • C4, Northeast Planting Bed 2nd East of Penny: Volunteer Member Maintains Attractive Appearance
  • C5, Northwest Planting Bed at Entrance to Dam: Volunteer Member Maintains Attractive Appearance

Zone D, Dam-foreshore: Area is subject to fluctuations in pond pool level. Current ground cover is thicket-like material. Desired cover is short grassy material that does not require mowing on regular basis. Power weed twice a year or as needed until short grassy vegetation or like soft material (daylilies; mondo) is introduced.

Zone E, Dam-backside: Area is subject to growth of thorny thickets, saplings, and small, and eventually, large trees. State inspectors require this area to be tree-and-shrub-less-no-root zone.  Current condition is mix of thicket cover, brush and small trees around main exit pipe and to the north, mowed grass to the south. Power weed or bush hog twice a year for clean appearance to pipe from North and South dam ends, mow to the south as possible; introduce short grassy vegetation or like soft material (daylilies; mondo) to North and adjacent to pipe where topographic conditions are too steep for regular mowing.

Zone F, West Forest: Area has closed tree canopy and includes the waterway out from the dam.  It has the most significant large tree coverage on the property and as such, likely provides considerable shelter and forage for Maynard Pond wildlife. Inspect 2-3 times per year, remove hazardous limbs, maintain soft ground cover (ex: ferns) with controlled growth of certain saplings, eliminate poison ivy and thorny thickets; ensure free flow of waterway to street, which will require occasional power weeding and woody growth removal. Mow grass from South end of dam to waterway (the old spillway areas) to allow equipment access to below dam area.

Zone G, Inlet North: Area has semi-closed tree canopy, yielding to direct sun exposure from the south. Ground cover is mix of newly planted grass nearest the water, and a mix of ornamental shrubs, ferns, vines, thorny thickets, and ivy (including poison). Scheduled mowing of grass and trim will occur every 14 days March – October; remove hazardous limbs and trees; remove poison ivy and thorny thickets, maintain soft ground cover (ex: ferns) with controlled growth of certain saplings. Introduce grassy shoreline and short shrubs along shore to mitigate overuse of area by Canada Geese. Topsoil and cover with warm season grass the areas that are bare.

Zone H, Inlet South: This area is mostly shoreline and a close interface with private land owners along Coronado. This area should be observed to determine if there are any land-based maintenance needs for CVHOA.

Zone I, Open Space Street Interface: This is the 3 foot zone at the streets for Zones B and C.  Currently, railroad ties are used to discourage drive-ons to the property. Replace and secure railroad ties on Ralph Drive, evaluate and replace deteriorating and unattractive ties along Warren and Coronado.

Zone J, Maynard Pond: All signs indicate the pond system is healthy, including the presence of aquatic life. Small shrubs remain in water from pre-inundation conditions. Those shrubs are disappearing at a slow rate from east to west. On a case by case basis, volunteers can be authorized to remove remaining vegetation in water, especially on the southern part of the pond. A patch or two of the vegetation should remain as cover for fish, other aquatic life, and as a perch for fish-preying birds. CVHOA Lake Analysis Report recommends a minimum water depth of 3 feet be maintained to ward off new plant growth and stagnant conditions. Periodic major disturbance activities are typical for man-made ponds in the North Carolina piedmont. CVHOA should include possible dredging in its long term (emphasis on long-term) planning. Expenses of over $100,000 is to be anticipated and included in long-term association strategies for budget reserves. For now, the conditions at Maynard Pond are the best in over ten years for residents and neighbors to enjoy.