sorry, folks; you're out of luck

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Sorry, SCHH residents who paid lot premiums for lagoon lots thinking that you were buying this:

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and you actually got this:

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You're stuck with it!

DHEC-OCRM doesn't regulate pond depth, along with a lot of other things. They only regulate volume. Never mind the fact that the construction plans that DHEC-OCRM approved call for ponds to be 5 feet deep, and as-built plans show that they aren't. And, never mind the fact that on 2/20/09 DHEC-OCRM wrote a letter to Thomas & Hutton/Pulte that says:

1) “Ensure the bottoms of all ponds are excavated to the appropriate elevation and that the pond depths are consistent with the pond depths shown on the approved plans.”
5) “ ,,,However it (lagoon maintenance document) does not address all issues of non-compliance. The following are examples of items not addressed:
a. Nine phase 5 ponds were not listed and there is indication that at least ponds 149, 152, 161 and 162 are currently too shallow.
b. Some water surfaces may rise due to downstream connectivity but the water surface elevation will not rise if equalization pipes are clogged.”

DHEC-OCRM says now that they only regulate volume.

So if your pond has the required volume, and is one ft. deep, and there are plants growing and birds walking around in the middle of it, then DHEC-OCRM says “we can’t help you.” DHEC-OCRM also says that it's your fault, and that you're violating the law by putting fertilizers on your lawns.

Pulte/Thomas & Hutton say: “too bad—we met DHEC-OCRM’s and Beaufort County’s requirements”. Never mind the fact that you paid a handsome lot premium to live on a ‘beautiful lagoon’ You bought it—now, live with it.

So, sorry, folks--you're "out of luck".

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