FOLA News

Lake Apopka Crossroad

December 29, 2011
by FOLA Board Member Jim Hawley
 
The Lake Apopka Restoration Summit was held on Dec. 14, 2011 to consider methods to speed restoration and lower its cost. Two ways forward were discussed. One defined restoration as a clear water lake, the other as a hydrilla dominated large mouth bass fishery.
Please read the rest of this Summit Meeting Report for an analysis of what could happen if we are not careful.

AB Canal Flow Never Promised

November 2011
Regarding the TV news video claiming that the NURF proponents were never told there would be times when there would not be enough flow through the AB Canal to function:
Please read NURFLetterToBoard , PositionPaper_Petition_NURF , and FolaFActs - LCWAResponse for the real story.

 Heritage Festival Report

October 31, 2011

First, let me thank all of you who helped at the Oakland Heritage Festival. It went well in spite of the nasty early morning weather. The Lake Apopka boat tours were a real success thanks to the tremendous efforts by Tom Johnson and Ron Sikes as well as our guides.

Our next meeting will be on December 1, at 5:00 P.M. at ONP. Please plan to be there—we have a lot to discuss. The hydrilla proposal is still moving forward and we really need to take a stand on the new evaluation criteria for water quality in impaired lakes.

If you haven’t completed petitions against the hydrilla proposal, please get them done ASAP. We really have to put up a good fight on this one! Some of you have done a good job getting signatures but I haven’t heard from some of you.

Jim Thomas

Latest SJRWMD Lake Apopka Bird Survey

Dear Avid Birders,

Results from the September 2011 Lake Apopka Bird Survey:

We had a terrific turnout for the September survey. Thank you all for being there!!! Thanks to your dedication and commitment, we were able to cover all of the transects we needed to!!! You’all are fabulous volunteers and we are so lucky to have your help!!!

The group surveyed five transects including areas 1, 2, 6, 7, and 9. The temperatures were comfortable (between 74 and 84 degrees). The skies were cloudy and overcast and there was very little wind. The total number of bird observations recorded was 5,132 compared to 4,658 recorded in September 2010. A total of 83 bird species was identified; 69 species were identified last year. The largest numbers of birds were recorded on Lust Rd (1,967), and Laughlin Rd (1,486). The highest species diversity was recorded on Lust Rd (60 species) and Laughlin Rd (47 species).

Red-winged Blackbird (2,298), Common Moorhen (652), Turkey Vulture (257), Western Sandpiper (250), and Least Sandpiper (210) were the most frequently observed species. Fourteen species of wading birds (egrets, herons, ibis, storks, etc.) were observed including 18 Roseate Spoonbills and 7 Wood Storks. The Osprey (91) was the most frequently observed raptor species. Six duck species were observed including Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (5), Fulvous Whistling-Duck (10), Wood Duck (14), Mottled Duck (38), Blue-winged Teal (61), and Green-winged Teal (1). Warbler species included Northern Parula (2), Yellow Warbler (4), Yellow-throated Warbler (1), Pine Warbler (2), Prairie Warbler (6), Black-and-white Warbler (1), Northern Waterthrush (11), and Common Yellowthroat (23). Unique observations included the Western Sandpiper (250), Least Sandpiper (210), Pectoral Sandpiper (18), and Long-billed Dowitcher (30).

Our next Lake Apopka bird survey will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011. I’ll send out a notice before the survey. Meanwhile, happy birding!!!

Pam

Pamela J. Bowen
Environmental Scientist
St. Johns River Water Management District
4049 Reid Street/Hwy 100 West
P. O. Box 1429, Palatka, Florida 32178-1429
ph: (386) 329-4870, Fax: (386) 329-4585
e-mail: pbowen@sjrwmd.com

New Threats to Lake Apopka Basin

August, 2011
Several proposed projects in West Orange County have great potential for reversing the on-going restoration of Lake Apopka. After spending millions of dollars to purchase the former farms on the north shore and more millions in a long-term restoration program that is working, it is hard to believe anyone would be supporting the poorly planned projects that are now being considered. With recent changes in the regulation process, however, we cannot relax until we know these projects have been rejected and abandoned.

The worst one is a plan to build a commercial airport adjacent to the North Shore Restoration Area (NSRA), the 20,000 acre restoration of the marsh system which once made Lake Apopka the most productive fishery in the southeast. This project, planned by the West Orange Aviation Authority, has been discussed for eight years and is proposed at the sites of the existing Orlando North Airport and the Orlando Apopka Airport (formerly Orlando Country Airport), both near the NSRA. The new runway would have to service corporate jets so runways would have to be lengthened and flight patterns would have to be over Lake Apopka. The NSRA has always been a historic resting and wintering place for migratory birds. As the restoration continues, this area becomes increasingly important to millions of water fowl, wading birds and numerous species. We often see large flocks of white pelicans that fly at high altitudes. This poses a huge danger to airplanes — current studies show thousands of bird and aircraft collisions occur each year with many deaths. We have always planned to develop this area as an ecotourism center and we already get many birders from around the world. This is probably the only way we can attract some income to help offset the costs of restoration.

The second project we must evaluate carefully is the proposal to build a sewage sludge composting facility adjacent to Jones Avenue, very close to the NSRA.

GOOD NEWS! - August 29, 2011 - Lake County Commission Denies Sludge Factory Permit
Citizen involvement counts - Join FOLA and Get Involved!

The proposal includes hauling tons of sewage sludge to the site each day, allowing it to compost and then spreading the compost over the sod farm fields. Part of the reason for this project is current limitations being imposed on the septic tank industry to stop spreading the sludge over pastures and other open land, partly because of the nutrient loads, heavy metals, and other toxins which eventually reach surface waters. This proposed project would necessarily drain into the lake and this would undoubtedly negate the progress we have made toward restoration of the lake (not to mention the smell!).

The third project is now being considered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Agency (FFWC) which involves allowing hydrilla, one of the most aggressive aquatic invasives in Florida, to become established in any lake where it will flourish. This would be a disaster in Lake Apopka where nutrients are still high. A look at lakes such as Toho and others in Osceola County will show what happens. The County and State spend millions of dollars each year just to clear boat channels through the growths. In Lake Apopka we are seeing fairly rapid natural recruitment of eel grass, the most valuable submerged species in Florida, which was very instrumental in making this a valuable fishery and which was lost when massive algal growths prevented sunlight to penetrate the green water causing decline of the eelgrass. If treatment of hydrilla is not allowed, the eel grass will once again decline and the lake will become impassible by boat traffic. It will also increase the thick sediments at the bottom of the lake and spread downstream to the entire chain of lakes.

This project was proposed by a scientist at U. of F. who has always opposed the Lake Apopka restoration. It is my understanding that FFWC will hold a series of public meetings before it decides whether to impose a rule that would prevent on-going treatment of hydrilla.

Everyone who understands the magnitudes of problems presented by these proposals should do everything possible to help defeat them. Educate others, join FOLA (FOLA.org) for continuing information and stay updated on the issues. Advocacy groups are ineffective unless members are well educated about the science involved in the issues and then take action in the right direction. We are dealing with biological problems with political solutions so numbers of educated activists are critical and the more we have, the more likely we will be successful. Please do your share!

Jim Thomas
President, Friends of Lake Apopka

Good Comments From Apopka Festival

May 2, 2011 - The FOLA booth had a lot of traffic throughout the Apopka Art and Foliage Festival in Apopka April 30 - May 1. Volunteers were encouraged by several local residents who commented on noticing real improvement on the quality of water in Lake Apopka. Reports were also given on recent fishing trips where nice size bass were the catch of the day!
Apopka resident Jessica Schilling (left) receives the winning raffle picture taken by local wildlife artist Mike Brinkley from FOLA vice president Mona Phipps. The raffle was presented at the FOLA booth at the festival. Jessica is a collector of Brinkley's art and was happy to have another picture to add to her collection.

Lake Apopka Joint Meeting a Success

April 21, 2011 by John Deam

A very good crowd of folks interested in the history and future of Lake Apopka enjoyed a series of talks describing the area from pre-historic times up to the present at Tanner Hall in Winter Garden on April 21, 2011. Well attended displays from the presenter's organizations offered background information for an hour before the show began.

Starting off, Greg Harding of the Florida Public Archaeology Network told us of finding evidence around the lake of pre-historic activity going back thousands of years and continued up to the earliest recorded settlers.

Kay Cappleman of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation then took over with the story of the rise and fall and rebirth of settlements along the South shore and the interesting history of many of the founding families.

Jim Thomas of the Friends of Lake Apopka (that's us) and Oakland Nature Preserve then took us through the history of the lake itself, from it's pristine condition when it was fed only by waters cleaned and filtered through surrounding swamps and wetlands, to the digging of the Apopka-Beauclair canal that lowered it's level and started the process of exploitation that resulted in it downfall. He finished with the story of FOLA and the Oakland Nature Preserve and their role of presenting a window on the lake area environment and it's progress for all to observe.

Alita Huff of the Central Florida Anthropological Society took the show forward with a spirited presentation on several digs recently conducted in the Oakland area by their group working out of the Oakland Nature Preserve. She enjoyed that they captured the interest of local citizens who joined them in their efforts. Tiffany George reported on her study of who was visiting the area and why they came here. She has discovered that a good portion of those she interviewed were international tourists.

Dave Walker of St Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) then caught us up on the current status of the lake. The main source of it's problem of algae growth has been phosphorus from fertilizer, primarily in the water pumped back in from the North Shore farms over the years. Even after the farm buyout, because of the bird deaths from pesticide in the topsoil, the district has had to continue pumping rainwater back into the lake until the topsoil was remediated. Almost all this has now been accomplished by turning the topsoil under and a good portion of the area is flooded again. Already, the bird count there has surpassed anywhere else including the Everglades! He projects that by the end of 2012 the whole area will be ready and this pumping can be stopped. At this point, the lake should begin a marked decrease of algae and begin clearing up even faster.

Finishing up, Greg Gensheimer of Green Mountain Scenic Byway showed the progress of the Byway, now reaching from downtown Winter Garden to well into West Lake County and hopefully soon to include a loop trail all the way around Lake Apopka. SJRWMD has promised access through the reclaimed North Shore and all that remains is to connect with a link at each end.

FOLA again held a raffle for one of the beautiful framed prints by nature photographer Mike Brinkley, won at the close of the evening by Rick Pollard of Oakland. Offered his choice of 4 prints, Rick chose the St. Augustine Lighthouse photo to take home.

2011 Spring Fever in the Garden Good for FOLA

April 9, 2011 by John Deam

We had a very nice turnout of visitors to our FOLA booth at last weekend’s Festival in downtown Winter Garden. Many of them told us they had noticed the improvement in Lake Apopka over the past few years as the average phosphorus levels have been going down. They were all looking forward to seeing this continue We did have to explain to some how the water quality varies with the size of the lake as it shrinks and concentrates the phosphorus during dry spells causing a heavier algae bloom. One visitor said he was sailing on the lake again and several remarked they were catching bigger fish.

FOLA welcomed three new families to our membership at the festival. Pat Curry from Tavares, John and Debby Tagliareni from Winter Garden and Joe and Cindy West from Oakland are now helping with our efforts to keep the restoration going.

Chris LaVigne from Orlando was the lucky raffle winner of the beautiful Osprey, a large framed photograph donated to FOLA by nature photographer Mike Brinkley.

Nancy and I thank Paul Ek and his dad Charles and Stephanie Berry for coming by to relieve us at the FOLA booth and as always, we thank the fine folks at Bloom ‘N Grow Garden Club for extending us the invitation.

Speaking of invitations, don’t forget our big annual meeting coming up on Wednesday the 20th at Tanner Hall in Winter Garden where you will learn some of the history of Lake Apopka from 5000 years ago up to what is being planned for the future. 

2011 SJRWMD Lake Apopka Bird Survey

We had a fabulous turnout for the January 2011 survey.

The group surveyed six transects including areas 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 9. The weather was sunny and cool and the winds were light.

The total number of bird observations recorded was 8,960 compared to 6,854 recorded in November. A total of 92 bird species was identified; 73 species were identified in November.

The largest numbers of birds were recorded on Laughlin Rd (3,018), Lust Rd (1,719), and Lake Level (1,650). The highest species diversity was recorded on Laughlin Rd (65 species), Hooper Farm Rd (59 species), and Lust Rd (54 species).

Red-winged Blackbird (3,957), American Coot (761), Turkey Vulture (559), Common Moorhen (373), and American Robin (351) were the most frequently observed species. Large numbers of Northern Harriers (259), White Ibis (179), Tree Swallow (160), and Red-tailed Hawk (157) were also observed.

Nine duck species were observed including Gadwall (1), Mottled Duck (6), Blue-winged Teal (135), Northern Shoveler (27), Northern Pintail (33), Green-winged Teal (11), Ring-necked Duck (16), Lesser Scaup (10), and Hooded Merganser (13).

In addition to large numbers of White (179) and Glossy (134) Ibis, large numbers of Great Blue Herons (112) and Great Egrets (130) were also observed. Plover and sandpiper species observed included Killdeer (139), Greater Yellowlegs (21), Lesser Yellowlegs (33), Least Sandpiper (12), White-rumped Sandpiper (2), Dunlin (30), Long-billed Dowitcher (52), and Wilson’s Snipe (14).

Rare or unique sightings for the area or time of year included the Northern Pintail and Dunlin.

Our next Lake Apopka bird survey will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2011. I’ll send out a notice before the survey. I hope you’ll be able to join us then!!!

Pam
Pamela J. Bowen
Environmental Scientist
St. Johns River Water Management District
4049 Reid Street/ Hwy 100 West
P. O. Box 1429, Palatka, Florida 32178-1429
ph: (386) 329-4870, FAX: (386) 329-4585
e-mail: pbowen@sjrwmd.com