Pond system drawdown
The Lakes Department will be conducting a pond drawdown beginning Wednesday, March 24, 2010. The drawdown is an effort to increase the salinity levels in the pond system as salinity has decreased with the above normal rainfall throughout the winter. Salinity helps deter the growth of aquatic vegetation, such as duckweed and filamentous algae, that can be problematic. Water levels will be lowered approximately 3 feet over the course of 3-5 days and then the ponds will be refilled on Monday, March 29th with water from spring tides.

NOAA plot of predicted tides, March 20th-April 1st.

Featured Pond

Pond 001
Location: Located at the Beachwalker Drive outfall and stretching behind Greenslake Cottages and Beachwalker Office Park.
Size: 3.36 acres
Average Depth: 5.06 feet
Maximum Depth: 10 feet
Volume: 5,537,960 gallons
Average Salinity: 21 parts per thousand
Completed: in the late '80s

This pond is one of the most popular fishing locations on Kiawah, situated at the inflow of tidal waters for the western portion of the Island.  A weir at the western end along Beachwalker Dr. provides these fishing opportunities and signage in the area gives information on fish species and fishing regulations.  This weir structure houses the gates that are used to control water levels for the western portion of the Island as well.  Two 36” gates are located on the interior of the pond that are used to lower the pond system and the four 48” gates on the exterior (marsh-side) are used to control tidal inflow.  The pond is also one of the 17 locations around the Island where weekly water level monitoring takes place.  Recent activities here include a landscape renovation of the area by the Town of Kiawah and installation of soft erosion control materials by the KICA Lakes Management Department.

To see maps and photos of the pond, click HERE.