Note that these Mallards are standing in a section of the largest pond.  If the pond isn’t dredged and cleaned out soon, it is going to look a lot different.

I would prefer to see it, as well as other areas around Homewood at Plum Creek, converted into, and maintained naturally as rain gardens and bioretention assets with plants and trees.  They could then continue to do their jobs even better:  removing pollutants from the water before they continue on down Plum Creek on the way to the Chesapeake Bay, improving wildlife habitats, and improving the soil’s retention of water.

Planted as a bioretention asset would also save money in that we wouldn’t need the maintenance and operational cost of the fountains, etc.  That savings would go a long way towards negating the costs to convert from a pond to a bioretention or rain garden and save money in the long run.

Click on this link to see the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s recommendations.