Letter from William E. Johnson to Dennis Holcomb (July7, 1981)
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
Water quality management--Florida
Environmental protection--Florida
A letter from William E. Johnson to Dennis Holcomb, dated July7, 1981. Enclosed with the letter is a report by Johnson, a biologist with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) regarding a fish kill in Lake Apopka that occurred in June of 1981. The report states that the fish kill was first reported on June 20, and described as "massive" by Holcomb, who was also a fisheries biologist with the GFC. Sample counts of areas of the fish kill estimate that the fish kill totaled 18 million fish, primarily gizzard and threadfin shad. The report also states that no largemouth bass were present in the kill, and it is assumed that none are present in the lake at the time of writing. 15-20 Sunshine bass were observed. Sunshine bass are a hybrid bass used to artificially stock lakes, and Lake Apopka was stocked with Sunshine bass fingerlings in May of 1981. The report concludes, based on water samples, that the fish kill was a result of oxygen depletion after a period of above-average temperatures and stormy weather conditions. Water quality data from the samples are also attached.<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.
Johnson, William E.
Original 8-page typewritten letter from William E. Johnson to Dennis Holcomb, July7, 1981: binder 1981, 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
Letter from Harold L. Moody to James "Jim" P. Clugston (December 17, 1962)
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
Water quality--Florida
Sewage--United States
Fishing--Florida
Fish
A letter of correspondence between Harold L. Moody and James "Jim" P. Clugston. In the letter, Moody discusses the changes in Lake Apopka's water quality during the 1940s and 1950s. He provides a brief timeline of the creation of the muck farms on Apopka's north shore, and notes that Winter Garden has expanded their sewage treatment in the last half-decade. He also notes that the bass fishing on Lake Apopka has declined during the 1950s, considering the 1950-1951 bass season the last phenomenal year.
Moody, Harold L.
Photocopy of original 1-page typewritten letter from Harold L. Moody to James "Jim" P. Clugston, December 17, 162: binder 1962, drawer 1938-1987, 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
Oakland, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Winter Garden, Florida
Beauclair Canal, Florida
Letter from Harold L. Moody to J. W. Woods (June 6, 1967)
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
Water quality--Florida
Pollution--Florida
Fishing--Florida
A letter from Harold L. Moody, fisheries biologist with the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, to J. W. Woods, Chief of Fisheries for the commission. The letter describes a fish kill observed on June 3, 1967. Moody was informed of the kill by Dewey Smith. The kill area was located on the north shore, in the canal separating the muck farms from the lake. Moody also notes that several fishermen observed planes spraying pesticide over the lake immediately before the fish kill. Moody reports that his lab has decided to collect water samples from the areas of future fish kills, as well as affidavits from witnesses to the kill.
Moody, Harold L.
Photocopy of original 1-page typewritten letter from Harold L. Moody to J. W. Woods, June 6, 1967: binder 1967, 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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Eustis, Florida
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, Florida
Lake Apopka, Florida
Taxpayers Petition County to Get Action on Lake Apopka Pollution
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
Water quality--Florida
Pollution--Florida
Fishing--Florida
A newspaper article from <em>The Winter Garden Times</em> describing petitions being circulated by Orange County sports fishermen and fishing camp owners. The petition calls for action in restoring Lake Apopka, and finding some compromise to make the farming on the shores of the lake compatible with sports fishing interests. The article also gives a brief description of the history of the pollution of the lake and its former status as a well-known sports fishing destination.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: "Taxpayers Petition County to Get Action on Lake Apopka Pollution." <em>The Winter Garden Times</em>, April 28, 1966: binder 1966, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, <a href="http://www.oaktownusa.com/Pages/Preserve/index" target="_blank">Oakland Nature Preserve</a>, Oakland, Florida.
<em>The Winter Garden Times</em>
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Lake Apopka, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Winter Garden, Florida
Ocoee, Florida
Apopka, Florida
Memorandum from the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to the Florida Air and Water Pollution Control Commission (June 13, 1968)
Lake Apopka (Fla.)
Ocklawaha River (Fla.)
Lakes--Florida
Water quality--Florida
Pollution--Florida
A memorandum from the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to the Florida Air and Water Pollution Control Commission. This memo discusses the history of pollution in the lakes at the headwaters of the Ocklawaha River basin, specifically Lake Dora, Lake Eustis, Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, Lake Griffin, and Lake Apopka. The memo identifies the three sources of pollution into these lakes as citrus processing, sewage treatment outfall, and farm waste discharge. The memo outlines the monetary values of the sportfishing and commercial fishing industry on the lakes, as well as detailing the historical change in the makeup of fish populations. The memo also explores the increase in fish kill frequency in these lakes, before ending with a request to the commission for an increase in outreach efforts regarding water pollution.
Photocopy of original 4-page typewritten memorandum from the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to the Florida Air and Water Pollution Control Commission, June 13, 1968: binder 1968, 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 Harris
Lake Eustis, Florida
Lake Dora, Florida
Lake Griffin, 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