Last of the lakes: Latest chapter in golf course saga

RIO RANCHO – Not everyone was happy, but that’s often the case when you’re about to lose an iconic part of your neighborhood.

And that’s what’s happening at The Islands at Rio Rancho, once a gorgeous respite for residents and wildlife, and a few lakes where countless golf balls were sent to a watery grave.

In recent years, with the demise of what was last known as Club Rio Rancho, ponds on the East and North “nines” were drained.

On Aug. 14, The Islands, a gated senior community of 101 homes at the end of Eastlake Road, began losing its series of small ponds, estimated to be about 9 acres in total size. The Islands was built between 1987-92 and its homes range in size from about 1,100 to 2,000 square feet in size.

“It’s like a green soup,” owner/developer Steve Chavez said of the lakes, or ponds. “I mean, it’s just horrible.”

Although his plans are yet to be finalized and require approval by the city’s planning and zoning folks, Chavez said it needs to remain as a retention pond to alleviate future flooding in the area.

“When that water is gone, it’s gonna be a drainage ditch,” one resident, concerned about the possibility of his property value dropping once that watery asset is gone, said. “The Islands residents have been paying ($25 monthly) to fill the lakes and test the water for years — no money out of his pocket. He should let us continue to do so instead of destroying our lives. This entire situation makes no sense at all.”

Chavez said the property values “will probably increase because they have an asset there that’s deteriorating — trees dying, railroad ties falling into the water. We’re trying hard; we’re working with everybody — code inspector, city of Rio Rancho and the health department. I’ve worked with the HOA.”

Chavez said a case of West Nile Virus, detected around the area, prompted the lake’s drainage, which had been originally set to be in December of this year.

“We offered them to take it and find a solution for it, the HOA, and they came back and said they didn’t want it,” Chavez said. “So, we moved on. When West Nile Virus was detected, we made a decision, because it was more a health concern than anything, and we went through the steps to go ahead and drain it. … With the West Nile, there was a sense of urgency.”

Islands Homeowners Association President Jana Burdick said she couldn’t estimate the split of residents when it comes to happy vs. unhappy with the plans for their neighborhood.

“I think I would tell you all the residents are sorry to see the ponds that surround our community go away,” said Burdick, an Islands resident (the population is somewhere between 100 and 200) of eight years. “We have folks that have been here for decades. … Mr. Chavez gave us a couple opportunities — in my opinion he has done his best to work with us. … We’ve seen some preliminary plans for what he envisions, (although) nothing is finalized until it goes to the planning committee.”

The Islands Homeowners Association held a meeting Aug. 16 at Esther Bone Memorial Library, where residents received an update on the lakes’ drainage, and the process that began with a discharge permit from the New Mexico Environment Department.

About 48 residents and one dog were in attendance, with most resigned to the fact that their placid lakes were going to be merely a memory with the area serving as a retention pond for floods in the future.

Josh Skarsgard, the previous owner/developer of what has been known through the years as Panorama Country Club, Rio Rancho Country Club, Chamisa Hills Country Club and lastly Club Rio Rancho, was talking about draining the lakes “three, four years ago,” so this is nothing new, Burdick said.

Skarsgard once pledged to donate about 36 acres of land to become a nature park off Eastlake Drive, with the Islands HOA agreeing to take responsibility for maintaining the pond, and homeowners are paying $25 monthly to keep reclaimed water filling the pond.

Residents heard at the HOA meeting that they will still be charged, with the proceeds going into an escrow account now that the water to the lakes has been shut off.

“We’re trying hard; we’re working with everybody,” Chavez said, “(to) make sure we’re following all the guidelines that they’re setting upon us. … I’ve been very transparent.”

“It’s gonna be an adjustment,” Islands resident and former Rio Rancho City Councilor Kathy Colley said. “Mr. Chavez did in fact say that he was going to wait until cooler weather to drain the ponds. In the interim, my understanding is that some residents, probably of The Islands, complained to the city of Rio Rancho about the odor; I’ve never noticed it at my house, so I don’t know what the heck their issue was.

“And then, supposedly on St. Andrews (Drive), contracted West Nile Virus … they pegged the ponds as the culprit for festering mosquitoes,” Colley continued. “So the city then said, ‘Mr. Chavez, you need to shut these things down now instead of waiting for the cooler weather.’ So we were going to continue to water the ponds to keep the smell down, but Mr. Chavez said, ‘Don’t put the water in because I’m going to have to suck it all out,’ so he was forced by the city to take action sooner than he intended.

“Our (HOA) board has been very transparent in telling our residents that, via email. They’ve been very clear about why it’s happening sooner than it was supposed to happen. So, blame doesn’t lie with Mr. Chavez; it lies with the city of Rio Rancho that compelled him to do that. … He seems to be very willing to work with our board.”

Thus, “You’ve got a few folks who are upset, and you’ve got a lot of people that are happy with it,” Chavez said.“The lake’s drainage is necessary, and District 4 City Councilor Paul Wymer stands behind that decision.”

“This is a critical part of the process as the health of all Rio Rancho residents has to be the top priority,” Wymer said. “With a West Nile virus case being reported in the vicinity, I believe Mr. Chavez is taking the best course of action.

“I can’t speak to his plans, if any, for the restoration of the ponds. There has yet to be a formal development submittal to the city for consideration,” he added. “There has also been no city approval issued with pond draining operations as there is no required formal process for such an approval. This is a private property owner issue and seeing that the owner is working with the NMDOH is commendable.”

In the future, Wymer says, “I remain optimistic that Mr. Chavez will ultimately bring the property back to an asset of the community it once was. District 4 residents and the city deserve such.”