By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Fox Run, a retirement community in Novi, recently completed the construction of an environmentally friendly waterfall in its existing pond.

The project, suggested by Grounds Supervisor Scott Gavin and built by a five-person team, took six weeks to complete.

Facilities Manager Dave Mercer directed the team, which included Gavin,  landscape architect Ken Weikel, and grounds workers Sal Hansen and Andy Ogden.

“The grounds team had a vision and a passion to create something the residents would enjoy,” Donovan says.

Biofiltration system helps environment
The new waterfall features a biofiltration system that will help clean the pond naturally. The system uses microorganisms to clean the water, which runs up through red lava rocks and a replaceable filter, then flows over the rocks, becoming aerated before it plunges into the pond.

Two pumps each circulate up to 92 gallons of water per minute from the pond through the falls. That’s enough to fill nine bathtubs in one minute.

The ducks have landed
At night, the waterfall is illuminated by lights built in underneath, which shine up through the spouting water. Nine Indian-crested runner ducks, which Fox Run procured from Texas especially for the community, also enjoy the waterfall. Mercer has raised the feathered friends from young ducklings and cares for them at his home during the winter months.

A rock garden and lighthouse, built by Mercer, adorns the landscape near the waterfall. Benches and trees are slated to be added in the spring, completing  the scenic area.