UWF Chairman Newton Cook report:
The meeting covered several topics of interest to us. The new policy for Recreation on SFWMD Lands was reviewed by Fred Davis and is on the way to the Board of Commissioners for their approval. It is a lot of legaleze but basically sets out the basis of the new "open" policy to public access. Better than ever before and we can work the system within the Recreation Workshop to our advantage in many cases. You never get the nice clear cut language you want, but there does seem to be a commitment to have boat ramps and public access on the many new projects in CERP.
The Lake O part presented by Dr.Susan Gray had a positive regarding the settling of the sediments and clearing of the water, but all else was negative. The lake is too high (over 16 feet), the phosporous level is double the usual, the vegetation is reduced from 55,000 acres to 11,000 acres and the fastest growing vegetation coming back is (horrors of horrors) hydrilla. Not too much hope for the estuaries as Level 3 Pulse releases will continue until the lake is below 16 feet then back to the normal releases to tide.....even this is not good news for the ducks as we need the lake closer to 13 feet.
No good news for the WCAs as well. The water is flowing south at a good rate, but the draining out of WCA 3 is so slow that levels remain high. The Indians are raising hell, the tree islands and home sites are flooded, but the problem is clogged culverts into the Park, which the Park will not allow the vegetation to be cleared for some reason. I believe we may well lose early teal in the glades.
Rob Barton, Recreation Committee Chairman (and UW-F Sponsor Member) reported on the Workshop activity and I followed with positive comments on this seasons STA hunting and the 3000 happy recreational users singing the praises of the SFWMD!!!!
Mike Collins, WRAC Chairman, made a point after the meeting to tell me he would support addtional STAs opened for waterfowling and a higher number of hunters per hunt.
The meeting covered several topics of interest to us. The new policy for Recreation on SFWMD Lands was reviewed by Fred Davis and is on the way to the Board of Commissioners for their approval. It is a lot of legaleze but basically sets out the basis of the new "open" policy to public access. Better than ever before and we can work the system within the Recreation Workshop to our advantage in many cases. You never get the nice clear cut language you want, but there does seem to be a commitment to have boat ramps and public access on the many new projects in CERP.
The Lake O part presented by Dr.Susan Gray had a positive regarding the settling of the sediments and clearing of the water, but all else was negative. The lake is too high (over 16 feet), the phosporous level is double the usual, the vegetation is reduced from 55,000 acres to 11,000 acres and the fastest growing vegetation coming back is (horrors of horrors) hydrilla. Not too much hope for the estuaries as Level 3 Pulse releases will continue until the lake is below 16 feet then back to the normal releases to tide.....even this is not good news for the ducks as we need the lake closer to 13 feet.
No good news for the WCAs as well. The water is flowing south at a good rate, but the draining out of WCA 3 is so slow that levels remain high. The Indians are raising hell, the tree islands and home sites are flooded, but the problem is clogged culverts into the Park, which the Park will not allow the vegetation to be cleared for some reason. I believe we may well lose early teal in the glades.
Rob Barton, Recreation Committee Chairman (and UW-F Sponsor Member) reported on the Workshop activity and I followed with positive comments on this seasons STA hunting and the 3000 happy recreational users singing the praises of the SFWMD!!!!
Mike Collins, WRAC Chairman, made a point after the meeting to tell me he would support addtional STAs opened for waterfowling and a higher number of hunters per hunt.