Repeat flooding hits racquet club

Web posted July 16, 2000

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By Heidi Coryell
Staff Writer

Fred and Jan Layman came to Augusta two years ago as tennis pros and became experts on flooding in the meantime.

Fred Layman, co-owner of Forest Hills Racquet Club, stands on the Higher's Pond gate that releases water into Aumond retention pond. If the gate is not left open when it rains, it can cause massive flooding in the area, Mr. Layman said JENNIFER BRUNO/STAFF

The owners of Forest Hills Racquet Club on Wimbledon Drive have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours repairing flood damage to their tennis courts, clubhouse and property since moving from Connecticut in 1998.

``I feel for these homeowners who can't move back into their houses because of the flood, but when our business floods, it's like the flood went right through our living rooms - plus we can't go to work and get paid,'' Mrs. Layman said. ``If we lose this, we lose everything.''

There are about 3,000 people who make use of Forest Hills' facilities, in addition to more than 400 residents who access apartments and townhomes through the club's property.

And Rae's Creek, which runs directly through the club property, has flooded twice in the two years the Laymans have been owners.

The property also flooded about a month before they were set to close on the club in October 1998. The previous owner went bankrupt shortly afterward, and the Laymans ended up buying Forest Hills from the bank.

``We knew it was in a 100-year flood plain. That means there's a 1 percent chance of it flooding in any given year,'' Mr. Layman said. ``We were willing to take that risk - but our chances are much higher than that.''

The last time the property had flooded prior to their purchase was in 1990.

Since then, the property flooded in July 1999 during heavy rains and again June 20.

Mr. Layman said nearby commercial development cropping up has made his property into a 50- or 20-year flood plain, increasing the probability of flooding.

A crane uses Higher's Pond, which is less than 100 yards from the club. An engineer will study the pond this week. JENNIFER BRUNO/STAFF

Local and federal engineers are examining the area to determine whether Mr. Layman's observations are right.

The problem at Forest Hills Racquet Club and its neighboring subdivisions off West Lake Forest Drive is just one piece in the large puzzle of drainage problems along Rae's Creek, federal and local engineers said.

Even before the most recent flash floods, the federal government had approved $3.3 million in funding for a flood study that examines three flood-prone areas in Augusta, including Rae's Creek. Other areas being studied for the next two years are Rocky Creek, Phinizy Swamp and drainage associated with the swamp.

``It's a pretty complicated situation in Richmond County because you've got a lot of small basins, but when they flood, they almost form one basin,'' said Jim Parker, chief of public and legislative affairs. ``We think it will be a good study. It probably will result in several solutions to different basins. What we're trying to do is look at it systematically.''

A federal engineer from the Savannah district is scheduled to visit Forest Hills this week to look at Higher's Pond - a retention pond less than 100 yards from the club's property - and Lake Aumond - the retention pond that catches the overflow from Higher's Pond.

Their visit, Army Corps of Engineers officials said, is part of the larger study of Rae's Creek.

In addition to the federal study, local commissioners earlier this year approved a drainage study to the part of Rae's Creek between Jackson Road - which is adjacent to Forest Hills - and Lake Aumond, about a quarter-mile downstream from the club.

But no money has been made available to fund the localized study. Cost estimates range between $30,000 and $50,000.

``We've got the project in the program, now we're looking for a way to fund it,'' said Drew Goins, assistant director for public works.

Funding likely will come from a county recapture account within the next few months, Mr. Goins said.

Mr. Layman said he agreed to pay half the cost of the study months ago in hopes it would permit him to tear down a 20-year-old concrete bridge that acts as something of a dam when heavy rains carry large amounts of water downstream. Two 72-inch culverts that run under the structure don't provide sufficient space for rain runoff, he said.

But the county won't let him replace the older structure with a freestanding bridge until a study is conducted showing it won't have adverse results downstream.

``I can't do anything,'' Mr. Layman said. ``And they continue to build upstream without upgrading anything downstream.''

A little farther downstream at Higher's Pond, additional problems exist, Mr. Layman said. The retention pond is equipped with a manual release gate that can be unlocked only with a county key.

Public works maintains that the release gate is designed to facilitate maintenance work, not flood relief. Mr. Layman said the gate, when open, effectively thwarts flooding to the West Forest Lake area.

In response to Mr. Layman's contentions, public works has asked that the localized study between Jackson Road and Aumond Lake examine release rates from Higher's Creek both with the gate open and with it closed.

The results of the study will determine any recommendations for improvements to the Forest Hills area, Mr. Goins said.

``Something needs to be done as far as this area is concerned,'' Mr. Layman said. ``There's no place for our water to go.''

Reach Heidi Coryell at (706) 823-3215.