River Roots Redevelopment: The Pond Ate My Boot

Selina Pedi-Smith,

Founder, Pellere Foundation

The pond ate my boot.

Well...part of it. Specifically, the pond ate the sole of my boot.  Just… nommed it right off my foot. The audacity!

I was almost done expanding our main pond when it happened. Remember all that rain in May, when I was waving my fist at the sky every other day? Those delightful deluges turned the first area we started excavating into an absolute quagmire, and forced me to change course and carve out the other side of the expansion first. 

That side went quite well, and before I knew it, I was staring at a fully excavated half-pond, with natural-looking curves, a few beautifully stubborn small boulders, and frogs that seemed quite content with their upgraded accommodations.

Then it was time to return to the quagmire and put in the main drain to avoid further interruptions.

As you may know, freshly excavated clay has an impressive ability to hold onto water. It also has an impressive ability to hold onto everything else. The first side of the expansion had managed to dry out a little bit, but there was still a monstrous layer of thick, sticky muck that was absolutely determined to eat anything that came close to it. 

It made several enthusiastic attempts to swallow the skid loader. Fortunately, we had our trusted rented digger, and some heavy-duty chain, and we were able to win the tug of war each time.

My muck boot, however, was not so lucky.

While we were installing the pond drain, I stepped into what looked like an ordinary muddy spot. And then I couldn’t move. I tugged. I swore a little bit. I twisted and tugged some more. I swore more profusely. Eventually, after a lot of very unlady-like cursing and sweating and grunting, my foot broke free. It wasn’t until I was half-way back up the hill to the house, and wondering why my right boot was walking funny that I realized the pond had decided to keep a souvenir.

Don and I did manage to finish his elegantly-designed pond drainage system, though we both had a few more times of thinking we might have to sacrifice yet more footwear to the muck. And I have officially finished excavating the entire pond expansion. Each rain now lifts the water level a few inches higher, and the frogs just keep getting happier.

Of course, each rain now shows me a few drainage issues that only reveal themselves during once-in-a-decade storms. Even our Oil City remediation house got a reminder that storm-water doesn’t always respect the plans we make for it. Water has an uncanny ability to find the one path you forgot to account for.

I suppose that’s one of the funny things about working with the land. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Mother Nature smiles politely and says, “Not quite.”

So there are still a few drainage improvements on the to-do list. The hillside excavation for our addition is underway. And every good rainstorm becomes another chance to walk around the property and see what’s changed.

The pond, though? The pond is finished. The frogs have resumed their nightly concerts, and they sound thoroughly pleased with the new venue. And somewhere beneath the surface rests the sole of a muck boot.

I’m choosing to think of it as a housewarming gift.

---

Rachel Brosnahan is the Community Engagement Coordinator for River Roots Redevelopment. Want to help us rethink what redevelopment can look like—together? Follow the conversation and share your thoughts with us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or reach out directly to rachel@riverrootsredevelopment.org. We’d love to hear from you!