Notice of Public Hearing on Lake Apopka Restoration
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
Environmental protection--Florida
Pollution--Florida
A notice of a public hearing to be held by Senator Walter Sims and Senator Kenneth A. Plante (1939-2015) of the Florida Senate. The purpose of the hearing was to collect information and allow for public input into a potential effort for the restoration of Lake Apopka. Sen. Sims organized a committee for restoring Lake Apopka in 1975, focusing on the lake drawdown method for restoring the lake.<br /><br />Lake drawdown is a method of environmental restoration that is used to control erosion and aquatic vegetation. Lake drawdown has also been sought as a potential method to lessen the effects of pollution by exposing the lake bed and allowing bottom sediments to dry, trapping pollutants. Opponents of lake drawdowns cite the impact of polluted water on areas downstream of the area being drained, in cases where the targeted lake is connected to a river system. Citrus growers have also opposed drawdowns on the grounds that draining large lakes makes nearby citrus groves more vulnerable to freezes, as lakes help keep temperatures stable throughout the year.<br /><br />Drawdowns of Lake Apopka have been sought by restoration efforts dating back to the 1960s, beginning with the Lake Apopka Restoration Project, organized by Governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. (1926-2011) and headed by C.W. Sheffield. These efforts were delayed and no drawdown was performed by the project. Plans for a drawdown continued to be developed, and federal and state efforts to gather funds and perform feasibility studies began in 1970. An experimental drawdown of Lake Apopka was performed in 1971, lowering the lake level by four feet, but was halted after public fears that wildlife deaths in the area were the result of the drawdown. Drawdown plans continued through the 1970s, but were continually delayed and projected costs for the project rose sharply. The project was cancelled by Governor Bob Graham (b. 1936) in 1979.
Original 1-page typewritten notice, February 21, 1975: binder 1975, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, <a href="http://www.oaktownusa.com/Pages/Preserve/index" target="_blank">Oakland Nature Preserve</a>, Oakland, Florida.
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Lake Apopka, Florida
Apopka, Florida
Lake Apopka: Operation Cleanup
Pollution--Florida
Agriculture--Florida
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
A newspaper article from <a href="http://www.floridagriculture.org/" target="_blank"><em>FloridAgriculture</em></a>, a magazine published by the Florida Farm Bureau (FFB). The bureau was formed in 1941, when Florida Citrus Growers, Inc. was reorganized as the Florida Farm Bureau, affiliated with American Farm Bureau Federation. The FFB represents Florida farmers in the Florida Legislature, studies agricultural practices, and offers insurance products for its members. This article discusses the history of Lake Apopka and its pollution, and describes research findings by Dr. Richard B. Forbes, a chemist working at the Sanford Agricultural Research and Education Center. The article also describes efforts by the Central Florida Agricultural Institute (CFAI) to stop pollution in the lake. The CFAI was a non-profit corporation formed to represent the Zellwood farmers operating on Lake Apopka's north shore and investigate potential methods to reduce pollution. The article claims that the CFAI had donated $50,000 to the Sanford Agricultural Research and Education Center and was working on reservoir systems to prevent polluted discharge water from entering the lake.<br /><br />Lake Apopka is one of Florida’s largest lakes and was once considered to be one of the world’s best lakes for bass fishing. The lake’s sport fish population began to decline in the 1960s, with major die-offs occurring almost yearly. The lake’s problems are generally considered to be the result of over-nutrification from various sources. Twenty thousand acres of wetlands bordering the lake’s north shore were drained in the 1940s and used for highly fertile "muck farms." These farms were routinely flooded to protect the fragile soil, and the fertilizer and pesticide-laden water was then discharged back into the lake prior to each growing season. Other sources of pollution include discharge from citrus processing operations, as well as treated wastewater from sewage plants. The nutrient-rich discharge promoted algae growth in the lake, turning the water to a green color, and blocked sunlight from reaching aquatic vegetation, which provided food and habit to the lake’s fish population. The lake’s bottom soil became increasingly “mucky,” also disrupting aquatic vegetation from taking root. <br /><br />Restoration work on the lake began in the 1960s with attempts by various agencies to remove “trash fish,” such as gizzard shad, from the lake via seining, which would hopefully allow the lake’s sportfish to thrive. The Lake Apopka Restoration Council, an initiative formed under Governor Claude Kirk (1926-2011) in 1967, launched several studies to find methods to improve the lake, though no serious action was taken. Various methods were debated to restore the lake through the 1970s and 1980s, including “drawdown,” which entailed completely draining the lake to allow the mucky bottom to consolidate. Restoration attempts were stalled for lack of funding and research.<br /><br />The Lake Apopka Restoration Council was reformed in 1985 under Governor Bob Graham (b. 1936), and, in 1987, the Surface Water and Improvement Management Act was passed. Together, these actions allowed comprehensive restoration plans to take shape, such as the Marsh Flow-way, a project by the St John’s Water Management District that uses natural methods to remove nutrients from the lake. The Friends of Lake Apopka, a citizen Environmental advocacy group, began to push for further restoration efforts in the 1990s. The lake’s north shore muck farms were eventually purchased by the State of Florida, helping to reduce the amount of nutrient entering the lake.
White, Earl
Photocopy of original magazine article: White, Earl. "Lake Apopka: Operation Cleanup." <a href="http://www.floridagriculture.org/" target="_blank"><em>FloridAgriculture</em></a>, May 1973: binder 1973, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, <a href="http://www.oaktownusa.com/Pages/Preserve/index" target="_blank">Oakland Nature Preserve</a>, Oakland, Florida.
<a href="http://www.floridagriculture.org/" target="_blank"><em>FloridAgriculture</em></a>
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Zellwood, Florida
Lake Apopka
Florida
Sanford, Florida
Lake Apopka: A Fact Sheet for Public Meetings
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
Water quality--Florida
Environmental protection--Florida
A fact sheet, published by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (DER), giving a brief timeline of Lake Apopka's environmental history and summarizing key points related to the proposed restoration of the lake. The fact sheet describes the current conditions of the lake, and lists public concerns about the potential impact of the Lake Apopka restoration project.<br /><br />Lake Apopka is one of Florida’s largest lakes and was once considered to be one of the world’s best lakes for bass fishing. The lake’s sport fish population began to decline in the 1960s, with major die-offs occurring almost yearly. The lake’s problems are generally considered to be the result of over-nutrification from various sources. Twenty thousand acres of wetlands bordering the lake’s north shore were drained in the 1940s and used for highly fertile “muck farms.” These farms were routinely flooded to protect the fragile soil, and the fertilizer and pesticide-laden water was then discharged back into the lake prior to each growing season. Other sources of pollution include discharge from citrus processing operations, as well as treated wastewater from sewage plants. The nutrient-rich discharge promoted algae growth in the lake, turning the water to a green color, and blocked sunlight from reaching aquatic vegetation, which provided food and habit to the lake’s fish population. The lake’s bottom soil became increasingly “mucky,” also disrupting aquatic vegetation from taking root. <br /><br />Restoration work on the lake began in the 1960s with attempts by various agencies to remove “trash fish,” such as gizzard shad, from the lake via seining, which would hopefully allow the lake’s sportfish to thrive. The Lake Apopka Restoration Council, an initiative formed under Governor Claude Kirk (1926-2011) in 1967, launched several studies to find methods to improve the lake, though no serious action was taken. Various methods were debated to restore the lake through the 1970s and 1980s, including “drawdown,” which entailed completely draining the lake to allow the mucky bottom to consolidate. Restoration attempts were stalled for lack of funding and research.<br /><br />The Lake Apopka Restoration Council was reformed in 1985 under Governor Bob Graham (b. 1936), and, in 1987, the Surface Water and Improvement Management Act was passed. Together, these actions allowed comprehensive restoration plans to take shape, such as the Marsh Flow-way, a project by the St John’s Water Management District that uses natural methods to remove nutrients from the lake. The Friends of Lake Apopka, a citizen environmental advocacy group, began to push for further restoration efforts in the 1990s. The lake’s north shore muck farms were eventually purchased by the State of Florida, helping to reduce the amount of nutrient entering the lake.
Original 2-page document, 1978: binder 1978, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, <a href="http://www.oaktownusa.com/Pages/Preserve/index" target="_blank">Oakland Nature Preserve</a>, Oakland, Florida.
<a href="http://www.dep.state.fl.us/mainpage/default.htm" target="_blank">Florida Department of Environmental Regulation</a>
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Lake Apopka, Florida
Winter Garden, Florida
Apopka Restoration Plan Revealed
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
Pollution--Florida
Water quality--Florida
A newspaper article discussing the approval of a restoration plan for Lake Apopka by the Florida Department of Pollution Control (DPC). The plan was to use grant money from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement a drawdown of Lake Apopka and allow bottom sediment to consolidate. The project was to be controlled locally by the newly formed Oklawaha River Basin Improvement Council, which was established earlier that year.<br /><br />The Oklawaha River Basin Improvement Council was formed on April 21, 1972, consisting of members representing Orange County, Lake County, Marion County, and Putnam County, as well as representatives of state agencies, such as the Florida Department of Air and Water Pollution Control. The council was formed to coordinate planning of environmental restoration at a regional level under the Florida Inter-Local Cooperation Act of 1969, which allowed city, county, and state agencies to coordinate with each other on mutually beneficial projects. The council’s primary project was a proposed drawdown of Lake Apopka, which was heavily polluted due to agricultural and sewage run-off by the 1970s. The drawdown would entail completely or mostly draining the lake, discharging the water downstream into the lakes and rivers that constitute the Ocklawaha River Basin, allowing Lake Apopka’s bottom sediments to consolidate, in the hope that this would improve Lake Apopka’s water quality. The council applied for several federal grants seeking funding for this project.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: "Apopka Restoration Plan Revealed." <a href="http://www.palatkadailynews.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Palatka Daily News</em></a>, October 15, 1972: binder 1972, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, <a href="http://www.oaktownusa.com/Pages/Preserve/index" target="_blank">Oakland Nature Preserve</a>, Oakland, Florida.
<a href="http://www.palatkadailynews.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Palatka Daily News</em></a>
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Lake Apopka, Florida
Winter Garden, Florida
Agreement to Establish the Oklawaha River Basin Improvement Council
Ocklawaha River (Fla.)
Pollution--Florida
An agreement to establish the Oklawaha River Basin Improvement Council, formed from a proposal by U.S. Representatives Lou Frey, Jr. (b. 1934), Don Fuqua (b. 1933), and William V. Chappell, Jr. (1922-1989). The agreement outlines the environmental issues facing the Ocklawaha River Basin and details the organization of the council, its goals, powers, and funding.<br /><br />The Oklawaha River Basin Improvement Council was formed on April 21, 1972, consisting of members representing Orange County, Lake County, Marion County, and Putnam County, as well as representatives of state agencies, such as the Florida Department of Air and Water Pollution Control. The council was formed to coordinate planning of environmental restoration at a regional level under the Florida Inter-Local Cooperation Act of 1969, which allowed city, county, and state agencies to coordinate with each other on mutually beneficial projects. The council’s primary project was a proposed drawdown of Lake Apopka, which was heavily polluted due to agricultural and sewage run-off by the 1970s. The drawdown would entail completely or mostly draining the lake, discharging the water downstream into the lakes and rivers that constitute the Ocklawaha River Basin, allowing Lake Apopka’s bottom sediments to consolidate, in the hope that this would improve Lake Apopka’s water quality. The council applied for several federal grants seeking funding for this project.
Photocopy of 3-page typewritten agreement: binder 1972, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, <a href="http://www.oaktownusa.com/Pages/Preserve/index" target="_blank">Oakland Nature Preserve</a>, Oakland, Florida.
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Lake Apopka, Florida
Lake Beauclair, Florida
Lake Dora, Florida
Lake Harris, Florida
Lake Eustis, Florida
Lake Griffin, Florida
Lake Ocklawaha, Florida
Winter Garden, Florida
Apopka, Florida
Eustis, Florida
Mount Dora, Florida
Tavares, Florida
Clermont, Florida
Orlando, Florida