—But community agrees to seek answers and form a plan

By Patric Hedlund, TME

The sparkling little pond at the heart of the Frazier Mountain community is the center of an unfolding drama that could affect the culture of the region and property values far into the future.

The Friends of Frazier Mountain Park hosted Act 2 in The Mysterious Saga of the Receding Pond on Monday, Aug. 29 this week, at the edge of the mud hole that is left as the water level…(please see below to view full stories and photographs—

Ryan Shultz, community liaison for Supervisor David Couch, said he can be reached at 661.868.3680 with suggestions and questions. June Schmidt of Friends of Frazier Mountain Park can be reached at schmdthd@att.net. They also invite those who want to help to come to their meeting the last Monday of the month at Caveman Cavey’s Pizza ).

Photo captions:

‘It’s my home too,’ FPPUD General Manager Jonnie Allison reminded a few angry residents among the group that gathered to discuss the pond.

Top: About 35 people gathered on the edge of the drying pond. Above (l-r) Arthur Smith, Sr. spoke about bentonite for the pond bottom. Dan Palilla said “FPPUD is derelict in their duties.” Others disagreed. Below (l-r) Supvr.David Couch’s liaison Ryan Shultz said, ‘I hear your passion,’ and agreed that the county owns the park and will help seek solutions. Jim Schmidt and Gary Phillips asked if a new well or water sales to Lake of the Woods are to blame.

Naomi Edgar and Erica Zuniga, both 11, experimented with walking on the exposed mud that was once the bottom of the pond. They said it is like quicksand now, and that they sank about 10 inches into the mud. “It is sad,” they said.

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This is part of the September 2, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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