A grassroots effort has led to progress for Lexington’s Golden Hills community.

Several concerned residents of the golf community noticed one of the ponds was turning red at an alarming rate.

The cause is sediment from a Golden Hills construction project drawn out by a heavier-than-normal rainy season.

Residents Mike Husman and Jack Botoroff began documenting the runoff and publishing their findings at www.wegetbiz. com/red-lake .

Botoroff says the pond has been deteriorating since 2015 when the last construction project buried a sewer line a few feet from the pond’s edge.

He said remedial efforts took years to get the ground back to its previous condition.

Golden Hills General Manager Dian Berry said the contractor for the most recent project was hired to install the water, sewer, storm drainage and roads for Phase V of Golden Hills.

The initial completion date was supposed to be late May to early June.

“The contractor has responded to each inspection report and followed up with additional erosion control measures that go beyond what was originally approved by the county,” Berry said.

“The construction timeline has gone beyond what the contractor had estimated. However, with rock finally going down on the roads, the end of the construction phase and erosion concerns will soon end.”

Berry estimated the work would be completed 10-15 days after her statement Aug. 25.

On Aug. 27, Lexington County issued a stop work order “due to failure to comply with a Notice of Violation and/or Corrective Order” issued Aug. 18 and a follow-up inspection completed Aug. 27.

According to the order, Golden Hills has until Sept. 4 to:

• Repair silt fencing.

• Repair inlet protections.

• Add sediment control devices.

• Remove all silty mud at several locations.

• Stabilize all disturbed areas that will not be graded after 14 days, or 7 days for slopes, to prevent erosion.