Welcome
Welcome to the official website for the Bridgewater of Wesley Chapel Community Development District (the “District”). This website is funded on behalf of the District to serve two major purposes. The first is to comply with Chapter 189.069 of the Florida Statutes, which requires each special District to maintain an official website. The second is an effort to help educate the general public about the services provided by the District, and to highlight the other agencies involved in the day-to-day operations of the community. These agencies include but are not limited to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Pasco County and the Bridgewater of Wesley Chapel homeowner’s association.
Bridgewater of Wesley Chapel Community Development District Disclosure
Please be advised that the Bridgewater of Wesley Chapel Community Development District (the “District”), a local unit of special purpose government created under Florida law, has constructed and is responsible for the maintenance of certain improvements, infrastructure and facilities within the District. The District financed this construction through the sale of tax-exempt bonds, a form of public financing. As a result, and in accordance with applicable federal and state law, all District owned improvements, infrastructure and facilities are and shall remain open and accessible to the general public. Should you have any questions on this matter, non-resident user fees applicable to District recreational facilities, or any other general District issue, please feel free to contact the District Manager.
September Midgefly Treatment in Ponds 80A & 80B
If you notice a slight "garlicky" odor around Ponds 80A & 80B, a new treatment derived from garlic oil has been used in an effort to address midgeflies. The product breaks down naturally after 30 days and kills Midge and mosquitos on contact. The product is formulated specifically for these insects and should have minimal to no effects on other forms of wildlife (although our aquatic vendor notes that garlic is used as an appetite stimulant in the aquarium trade, so it may increase the appetites of the fish within the pond - leading to more larvae and midgefiles/mosquitoes being gobbled up!).
Pickerelweed . . . It's Not A Weed!
The CDD Board has approved the planting of Pickerelweed, Pontederia cordata, around some of the District's ponds. Pickerelweed generally grows to between 3-4 feet tall, sending out lance-shaped leaves, one per stalk. During the spring and summer it will bloom with purple flowers, making it one of the more aesthetically pleasing plants to add to ponds.
Despite the name, it is not a “weed”. Pickerelweed is a native beneficial plant that is very popular in stormwater retention ponds due to its high tolerance for a wide range of parameters that are faced in an artificial body of water. It can handle the full-strength Florida sun in the summertime, will survive the occasional drop in water level, as well as being tolerant of the nutrient-dense runoff that feeds the ponds.
The primary pupose for approving this planting is for erosion control through the disruption of wave action. Waves generated by winds sweeping across the pond can pound away ay the shore, causing erosion. Once established, Pickerelweed will protecting the shoreline by acting as a barrier, and absorbing the wave’s energy before it can crash against the bank. As an added benefit, the plants will also mechanically hold soil with their roots, protecting the pond bed closest to the shoreline.
Other benefits of adding Pickerelweed (or other forms of vegetation to the pond) include:
- Providing habitat/cover for small fish and invertebrates and nutrient uptake. Aquatic plants provide fish with shelter and a place for them to lay their eggs. A thriving fish population improves insect control as the fish eat insect larvae and adult insects. Additionally, the plants provide feeding opportunities for ducks and other seed-eaters, as well as nectar for pollinating insects.
- Nutrient uptake, and reducing unwanted growth. Pickerelweed will compete with other, often undesirable, plant and algae species within the pond for nutrients. This will lessen the severity of algal blooms during peak growing season.
Plantings are scheduled around ponds 25, 26, 32, 50, 55, 60A, 65, 70, 80A and 80B.
