WATER BODY

COUNTY

ACRES

CURRENT STATUS

PROPOSED ACTIVITY

FY 2001-02

Lake Istokpoga

Highlands

27,692

Due to several years of drought, water levels in Lake Istokpoga were extremely low during FY 2000-01.  The South Florida water Management District (SFWMD) requested that we implement the extreme drawdown in FY 2000-01 rather than in FY 2003-04 as was planned at that time.  The SFWMD provided up-front funding under a Memorandum of Agreement that requires the Commission to repay the District no later than September 30, 2002.

Repay SFWMD for up-front funding expended during FY 2000-01.  Conduct tussock harvesting around the islands where resource enhancement activities were not conducted.  Implement plant management activities with herbicides to control regrowth of undesirable vegetation.

Trafford

Collier

1,494

The USACOE project is on schedule.  The Commission is drafting an agreement with FFWMDC, including a schedule and deliverables for our contribution.

Construction of disposal site cells on District property and hydraulic dredging of bottom sediments.

Orange

Alachua

12,706

Initiated muck removal to upland disposal site.

Conduct additional mechanical muck removal from selected locations with upland disposal.

Francis

Madison

21

Aquatic habitat is significantly degraded.

Conduct drawdown and muck removal.

Alligator Lake

Columbia

The current drought provides an opportunity to clean the interior canals of muck and invasive aquatic plants.  Stormwater treatment and a lined 0.7 acre pond for fishing and environmental education have been completed.

Remove muck and invasive vegetation from the central drainage and north dike barrow canals.

Tsala Apopka

Citrus

19,111

Directed to conduct demonstration project with lake in drought conditions. Developing cooperative aquatic vegetation management with Citrus County.

Conduct cooperative muck removal and tussock harvesting project with Citrus County.

Kenansville

Osceola

2,526

Emergent and submersed revegetation was successfully completed in 99/00.  Boat access improvement and navigation hazards removal was completed in 00/01.

Conduct tussock harvesting/in-lake disposal demonstration.

Walk-in-Water

Polk

7,532

Initial work conducted cooperatively with aquatic plants section, initiating tussock harvesting, cattail control and revegetation.

Supply funding for tussock harvesting.  Aquatic plant section will provide funding through DEP for Cattail control and revegetation with desirable native plants.

Statewide

Intra-agency funding for wildlife coordinator to ensure Division of Wildlife input with regard to enhancement projects

Continue intra-agency cooperative efforts

University of Florida Research

Largemouth Bass Habitat Utilization;

Zooplankton-

B. Crappie,

Wildlife Habitat Impact Study

Utilization of habitat evaluation is completed. Zooplankton-Black crappie evaluation has completed year 1 of a 3-year study.

A wildlife disposal island evaluation plan has been developed for research with the Wildlife unit at the Univ. of Florida. 

Continue with largemouth bass age and growth evaluation. 

Continue with zooplankton/black crappie study. 

Implement 3-year evaluation of large scale habitat enhancement techniques on wildlife habitat, aquatic plant succession, wildlife utilization of islands.

University of West Florida

Apple Snail studies

Concerns have been expressed about statewide apple snail populations.

Initiation of studies on lakes Tohopekaliga and Kissimmee to determine long term effects of drawdowns on apple snails

Apalachicola River Sloughs

Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Gadsden

Slough habitat in the river has been degraded by commercial navigational activities on the main river and long-term changes in river stages.

Contract with U.S. Geological Survey for habitat and biological evaluation of slough improvements to be conducted by the Corps of Engineers.

Lake Piney Z

Leon

400

An aquatic resource enhancement project was completed on Lake Piney z.  The recent drought has resulted in excessive aquatic and terrestrial plant growth in the lake.

Conduct aquatic plant control activities.

Panasoffkee

(SWIM)

Sumter

4,460

Biological monitoring of fishermen use, invertebrate diversity and abundance, and plant re-colonization of previously dredged site.

Continue biological monitoring of fishermen use, invertebrate diversity and abundance, and plant re-colonization as part of larger cooperative restoration effort.

Hell’n Blazes/

Sawgrass

Brevard

788

The USACOE and the SJRWMD continue with plans for hydraulic dredging of organic sediments from both lakes in 2003/04/05.

Continue biological monitoring of invertebrate population for enhancement project evaluation.

Local Government Aquatic Enhancement

Northwest, North Central,

Northeast, Southwest, and South Regions

Opportunities for implementing small enhancement projects occur annually within each region.  Since no funds are budgeted and no prior approval has occurred, these projects must be postponed and often the window of opportunity and cooperation is lost.

Conduct regional enhancement projects that become available during the year.  Approval by the Bureau Chief.

Greater Orlando Urban Fishery Project

Orange

323

Feeders and davits were purchased and installed.  Bank-fishing sites were cleared of vegetation and fish attractors were refurbished.

Provide additional fish feeders and davits, additional fish attractors and kiosks.  Construct a fishing pier.

Area 7 of Emeralda Marsh

Lake

529

A very limited recreational fishery has developed in response to re-flooding and restocking.

Implement comprehensive plankton, macro-revertebrate and fish assessment related to water quality.  Investigate endocrine disruption, spawning performance and growth.

Bridgewater Tenoroc FMA

Polk

6,968

Road access to pits and boat ramp sites are required to provide public access.  Drainage culverts need replacing.  This will be a multi-year effort.

Construct 4.4 miles of coquina road and provide 7 boat ramp sites with parking areas. Replace drainage culverts at Shop Lake and provide 0.6 miles of road to new boat ramp site.  Multi-year effort.

June-in-Winter

Highlands

3,504

Aquatic enhancement work completed during FY 1999-00.  Transplanting of aquatic plants required fencing.

Fencing material must now be removed under DEP aquatic plant control permit requirements.

Thonotosassa

Hillsborough

800

Aquatic enhancement work completed during FY 1998-99.  Transplanting of aquatic plants required fencing

Fencing material must now be removed under DEP aquatic plant control permit requirements.

Video Brochure

Several groups evaluating our enhancement project have requested development of a video that explains our projects.

Develop a video that highlights aquatic resource enhancement techniques developed and employed by our agency.

Water Conservation Area 3

Dade

FWC created boat cuts into the water conservation area several years ago.  These access points require additional work.

Access cuts have begun to close over, requiring additional work to keep access to anglers open.

Okeechobee

Okeechobee

Glades

Hendry

Palm Beach

Martin

750 mi.²

Habitat on Okeechobee deteriorated from three years of high water.  An organic berm composed of dead cattails and bulrush built up on the northwest shore.  Multi-agency funding removed the berm.

Follow-up work to rebuild access road.  If lake levels become low enough again next spring, additional work should be conducted if funding becomes available

Montgomery

Columbia

128

Design and permitting of a stormwater facility culminated in construction implementation of a facility.

Complete stormwater facility construction and begin evaluation.

Apopka (SWIM)

Orange

30,000

Budgeted funds were redirected to Okeechobee during FY 2000-01.  The current drought provides an opportunity for expanded revegetation on selected sites.

Muck removal at Magnolia Park and revegetation demonstration.

Tampa Fair Pond

Hillsborough

1

This is one of five interconnected retention ponds located within the fairgrounds.

Provide fish feeders, aeration system and a fishing pier to develop a special opportunity fishing pond.

Smith

Holmes/

Washington

160

Aquatic habitat has significantly degraded due to lack of management.

Prepare permit applications.  Conduct dewatering/muck removal project and re-establish as an FMA.

Big Gant

Sumter

93