Homebuilder blames Spanish Fork flooding on clay soil

SPANISH FORK — Homeowners in the Lynbrook subdivision could be flooding themselves, a homebuilder says.

Homeowners complained to the Spanish Fork City Council last month that the developer of the Black Horse townhouse community next to Lynbrook formed a berm out of the soil, preventing groundwater from running into three ponds in the area. The water accumulates during the spring and fall and runs under and into homes in the Lynbrook subdivision, they said.

The council recently approved another subdivision in the area, despite protests from neighbors.

City engineer Richard Heap said the three ponds are at a higher elevation than the subdivision so the developer's action couldn't cause the flooding. Instead, either an underground drain may be clogged or the clay soils are not allowing water from irrigating lawns to sink into the ground.

"They're flooding themselves" because of the clay soil, said Cris Child, who built the homes there.

Kayla Walker said the water runs into her home, not just under it.

"If we can't find the drain, we may have to find (another) way to move the water out," Heap said.

Homeowners also complained that an open grassy area was never completed, but Heap said the approved plans didn't include a manicured lawn. Instead, the natural grass was to be cut at least three times a year.

Residents, Boy Scouts and others trim the grass and clean the ponds occasionally as service projects, he said.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com