Why: In 2014, the Association was alerted to changes that would be required by the Commonwealth of Virginia to improve the dam at the Stormwater Management Pond located south of the eastern Exeter town homes and next to the Route 15 Bypass. The requirements state that the dam, which is the berm of earth running parallel to Route 15 bypass, has to be reinforced or reconstructed.

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How: The HOA first had to resolve the issue of contested ownership, which it did by settling in court with the Town of Leesburg in February 2019. The Association received $400,000 in exchange for assuming full ownership of the property. Along the way, the HOA has been working with a professional engineering service that dealt specifically with the types of improvements required. 

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What: 

• Phase 1: Planning - The Association's engineering firm develops plans and models, then submits for permitting through the local and state agencies required to sign-off. This should take from early 2019 into early 2021.

• Phase 2: Tree Clearing - All trees, bushes, and growth along the dam, including some area of the dry pond (south of the wet pond) will need to be removed. Once done, no plantings except grass can be installed on either side of the dam slope or within 25 feet of the toe of the slope. This work is expected to last from late December 2020 into mid-January 2021. 

• Phase 3: Reinforcement  - The downstream side of the berm will be resurfaced with a product called Hydro-Turf that is composed of layers of concrete-like substrates designed to slow water velocity, reinforce the dam wall, and is covered with an aesthetic turf material to improve the attractiveness of the material. This work is expected to begin in mid-to-late late summer of 2021 and be done by mid-fall of 2021.

• Phase 4: Landscaping - The Landscaping Committee will work with the Town of Leesburg and other required sign-offs to develop a plan for improving the landscaping in the area. There is a specific area that has to be maintained without trees along the dam for engineering purposes, as well as no-plant zones near power lines. All of these present challenges to re-landscaping the area. 

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When: The project planning is expected to be completed in January 2021. Phase 2 was completed in February 2021. Phase 3 is expected to be compelte by October 2021. And Phase 4 is TBD.