Harris Chain of Lakes Restoration Council 2016 R EPORT TO THE L - PDF document

Harris Chain of Lakes Restoration Council 2016 R EPORT TO THE L EGISLATURE E XECUTIVE S UMMARY E NCLOSED W ITHIN THIS R EPORT harrischainoflakescouncil.com 1

Issued by: Harris Chain of Lakes Restoration Council harrischainoflakescouncil.com Bob Johnson, Chairman Skip Goerner, Vice Chairman Don Nicholson, Secretary Keith Truenow Sid Grow Stephanie Bishop On the Cover The Harris Chain of Lakes , consisting of Lake Apopka, Lake Beauclair, Lake Carlton, Lake Dora, Lake Eustis, Lake Griffin, Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, and Lake Yale, are in Lake and Orange counties in central Florida. 2

E XECUTIVE S UMMARY The Harris Chain of Lakes Restoration Council (Council) was established by the Florida Legislature in 2001 (Chapter 373.467, Florida Statutes) with the powers and duties to (a) review audits and all data specifically related to lake restoration techniques and sport fish population recovery strategies, including data and strategies for shoreline restoration, sediment control and removal, exotic species management, floating tussock management or removal, navigation, water quality, and fish and wildlife habitat improvement, particularly as they may apply to the Harris Chain of Lakes; (b) evaluate whether additional studies are needed; (c) explore all possible sources of funding to conduct the restoration activities; and (d) report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives before November 25 of each year on the progress of the Harris Chain of Lakes restoration program, and any recommendations for the next fiscal year. This report represents the recommendations of the Council to the Legislature. The mission of the Council is to maximize successful restoration of the Harris Chain of Lakes, by ensuring sensible efforts to restore clean water quality, sound environmental policy, ecological diversity, and economic stability, now and into the future. The Council, in conjunction with state and local agency partners, met regularly during the reporting period of November 2015 through October 2016. The Council received technical presentations throughout this period on studies and initiatives to restore and manage the Harris Chain of Lakes. The Council also drafted letters to the Counci l’s Technical Advisory Group agencies and stakeholders to seek input regarding policy positions and programs expected to be recommended to the Legislature within the next ten years. To maximize successful restoration of the Harris Chain of Lakes in 2016, the Council specifically supports and recommends the following:  Lake Level Management and Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs): 1) Maintaining the highest water levels possible during the dry period of the year as fisheries benefit by higher water levels during the spawning season. 2) Connecting Lake Apopka to the north shore.  Lake Apopka Restoration: 1) Utilizing the Mitton cavitation process and wedgewire screens for removing sediments and phosphorus. 2) Dredging in Lake Apopka to create areas for vegetation.  Aquatic Vegetation: 1) Establishing additional aquatic vegetation in Lake Apopka and the Harris Chain of Lakes.  Fish Attractors: 1) Installing additional artificial structures in the Harris Chain of Lakes.  Fishery Access: 1) Improving public access to Lake Apopka.  Fishery Research: 1) Expanding pesticide testing of game fish and ducks from the NSRA to demonstrate whether sportfishing and hunting can be expanded into the NSRA.  Water Quality: 1) Expanding LAKEWATCH water quality sampling into Lake Apopka. 3

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS E XECUTIVE S UMMARY ................................................................................................................... 3 L IST OF T ABLES .............................................................................................................................. 5 L IST OF F IGURES ............................................................................................................................ 5 L IST OF A CRONYMS ........................................................................................................................ 5 E NABLING L EGISLATION ..................................................................................................... 6 1.0 R EPRESENTATION ................................................................................................................ 7 2.0 2016 M EETINGS AND P RESENTATIONS ............................................................................... 7 3.0 S UMMARY OF P RESENTATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................. 9 4.0 4.1 Lake Water Level Management.................................................................................... 9 4.2 Lake Apopka Restoration ............................................................................................ 10 4.3 Aquatic Vegetation ....................................................................................................... 12 4.4 Fish Attractor Program ............................................................................................... 14 4.5 Fishery Access ................................................................................................................... 14 4.6 Fishery Research ............................................................................................................... 14 4.7 Water Quality ............................................................................................................... 15 2016/2017 P ROJECTS B Y P ARTNERS ................................................................................ 15 5.0 A PPENDICES ....................................................................................................................... 17 6.0 6.1 Appendix A: Statutory Authority ............................................................................... 17 6.2 Appendix B: Copy of Harris Chain of Lakes Restoration Council Plan Letter ..... 19 M EETING I NFORMATION ................................................................................................... 24 7.0 Meeting 1: November 6, 2015, Meeting Information Meeting 2: February 5, 2016, Meeting Information Meeting 3: March 4, 2016, Meeting Information Meeting 4: April 1, 2016, Meeting Information Meeting 5: May 6, 2016, Meeting Information Meeting 6: June 3, 2016, Meeting Information Meeting 7: July 8, 2016, Meeting Information Meeting 8: August 12, 2016, Meeting Information Meeting 9: September 9, 2016, Meeting Information Meeting 10: October 14, 2016, Meeting Information 4

L IST OF T ABLES Table 1: Technical Presentations from November 2014 to October 2015 ............................... 7 Table 2: 2014/2015 Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Members ............................................ 7 Table 3: 2016 Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Members ..................................................... 8 Table 4. 2016/2017Projects for the Harris Chain of Lakes ..................................................... 15 L IST OF F IGURES Figure 1: Map of the Harris Chain of Lakes .............................................................................. 6 Figure 2. Aerial photograph of the Lake Apopka Marsh Flowway showing clear water discharging from the Marsh Flowway, mixing with turbid lake water in the center of the photograph..................................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 3. Mean total phosphorus concentrations in Lake Apopka, 1977-2015 ..................... 11 Figure 4. Mean chlorophyll concentrations in Lake Apopka, 1977-2015 .............................. 11 Figure 5. Secchi depth in Lake Apopka, 1977-2015 ................................................................. 11 Figure 6. Mean total nitrogen concentrations in Lake Apopka, 1977-2015 .......................... 12 Figure 7. Ground view of spatterdock re-established on Lake Apopka ................................ 13 Figure 8. Aerial photograph of planted spatterdock in Lake Apopka................................... 13 L IST OF A CRONYMS CHL Chlorophyll DEP Florida Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Protection Agency EPA FDOT Florida Department of Transportation FWC Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission HCOL Harris Chain of Lakes Lake County Water Authority LCWA MFLs Minimum Flows and Levels NSRA North Shore Restoration Area NuRF Nutrient Reduction Facility SJRWMD St. Johns River Water Management District TAG Technical Advisory Group Total Nitrogen TN Total Phosphorus TP UF University of Florida USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service 5

1.0 E NABLING L EGISLATION The Florida Legislature enacted legislation in 2001 creating the Harris Chain of Lakes Restoration Council (Council) to review audits and all data specifically related to lake restoration techniques and sport fish population recovery strategies, including data and strategies for shoreline restoration, sediment control and removal, exotic species management, floating tussock management or removal, navigation, water quality, and fish and wildlife habitat improvement, particularly as they may apply to the Harris Chain of Lakes (Figure 1), evaluate whether additional studies are needed, explore all possible sources of funding to conduct the restoration activities, and report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives before November 25 of each year on the progress of the Harris Chain of Lakes restoration program, and any recommendations for the next fiscal year. Statutory authority, as amended in July 2016, is included as Appendix A. Figure 1: Map of the Harris Chain of Lakes 6