Lakes and Ponds
Some of the most attractive elements of the Mallard Bay community are the two freshwater lakes and three freshwater ponds it offers. They provide pleasant fishing opportunities, either from shore or from canoes and kayaks as well as the opportunities for dogs to play "fetch" with tennis balls in calm, shallow water.
A flock of Canada Geese can usually be found on one of our lakes or ponds as seen in this photo taken on Webfoot Pond in June.
Each body of water is replenished by a series of pipes, drains, and pumps. The water is initially taken into the system from freshwater Head River Branch at a pump house where the water passes under the wooden bridge that serves Virginia state route 643 (Knights Run Road) outside the Mallard Bay community.
Description of Lakes and Ponds
The two lakes are:
Flyway Lake - This is the uppermost of the two lakes. It gets its water as runoff from Highland Pond and is bounded by lots 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 71, 72, 73, 74, 45, 76, 77, 78, 85, 86, 87, 88 and Flyway Lake dam.
Eagle Lake - This lake is the lower of the two lakes and gets its water from Flyway Lake runoff. It is bounded by lots 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 95, 96, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 and Eagle Lake Dam on the northeast side and Flyway Lake Dam on the southwest side.
The three ponds are:
Highland Pond - This pond draws its water by electric pump directly from Head River Branch. It is bounded by Canvasback Lane and lots 80, 81 and 82.
Web Foot Pond - This pond draws its water from Puddle Duck Pond which is fed via electric pump. It is bounded by Mallard Bay Drive and lots 14, 15, and 16.
Puddle Duck Pond - This pond draws its water from Flyway Lake and shares its water with Web Foot Pond. It is bounded by Mallard Bay drive and lots 19, 20, 21 and 22.
Route of Fresh Water Flow
1. Water is drawn from Head River Branch where it crosses Knights Run Road. It enters the pump house at the wooden bridge and is sucked into a large underground pipe that eventually empties into Highland Pond by way of a decorative spillway. The pump is on a timer which accounts for why the spillway only has water in it at certain times of day.
2. Water flows from Highland Pond into Flyway Lake by means of a drain.
3. From Flyway Lake, some of the water drains into Eagle Lake, and then into the Great Wicomico River.
4. Some of the water from Flyway Lake is pumped into Puddle Duck Pond.
5. Water from Puddle Duck Pond flows into Webfoot Pond through an underground pipe.
6. All bodies of water give up some of their content through evaporation.