Inspection Scheduled For "Lake Fort Fisher"

The Department of Transportation will conduct an inspection of the alley between Kingsman Field and 13th Street by Aug. 19, Tawanna Shuford, director of constituent services for City Council Member Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6), reported in an e-mail to the Corner Forum on Wednesday.

The inspection is the city's first step before conducting a repair that, hopefully, will eliminate the large body of standing water in the alley.

"If there is no drainage, DDOT will place a temporary repair (asphalt covering)," Ms. Shuford wrote. "Whenever they get a contract, permanent repairs will be applied. Unfortunately I have been hearing the same song for years about DDOT not having a contract for permanent repairs."

Amy Fisher, 427 13th St. NE, sent a letter about the site, which she calls Lake Fort Fisher, to Ms. Ambrose in June. Her letter, along with a photograph, appeared in the June 21 issue of the Corner Forum.

After being asked by a D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) representative on Monday whether there is a drain at the site, I checked. I couldn't tell, though, because the water was too murky and deep, and I don't have boots to wade in. Ms. Fisher was able to report, however, that there has never been a drain there. The WASA representative said this means WASA cannot do anything to help, and she told me to request an alley repair with the mayor's call center (727-1000). I placed the service request on Tuesday and was given confirmation number 528885.

This is not a good time for our neighborhood to have any unnecessary mosquito breeding sites.

The D.C. Department of Health reported Wednesday that two mosquito pools in the District — one in Georgetown and the other on the 3000 block of North Capital Street NW, have tested positive for the West Nile Virus.

"We are asking residents and businesses to help reduce the risk of the West Nile Virus by eliminating mosquito breeding sites around their homes and businesses," Health Department Director James A. Buford said in a press release.

The city encourages senior citizens and those with suppressed immune symptoms to stay indoors when mosquitoes are active. It has set up a West Nile Virus Call Center, at 535-2323. (http://dchealth.dc.gov/news_room/release.asp?id=162&mon=200308). §