Erich R. Marzolf, Ph.D., Director Division of Water and Land Resources

Transcription

1 Long-Term Restoration Success, Challenges, and Path Forward at Lake Apopka Erich R. Marzolf, Ph.D., Director Division of Water and Land Resources

2 Threats to Lake Apopka Eutrophication due to excess phosphorus (P) loading to the lake Periods of prolonged low water elevations Residual organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) concentrations in soils, sediments and biota The District s restoration efforts are attempting to address all three threats. 2

3 Phosphorus Diet Approach Reductions in phosphorus entering the lake Reduced volume of water pumped from LANS to lake (1993) Treat all discharges to inactivate phosphorus (1993) Apopka Stormwater Rule (2003) Removal of phosphorus from the lake Harvest rough fish (gizzard shad) from lake to remove P (1993) Operate Marsh Flow-Way to remove P and suspended solids (2003) 3

4 Phosphorus Load Reductions The Diet 1998 end farming 2009 end remediation 4

5 Marsh Flow-Way 766-acre treatment wetland began operation in 2003 ~40% of lake volume treated annually 5

6 Rough Fish harvest ~1,000,000 lbs fish / year ~3.2 MT P / year > 23M lbs of fish removed ~ 195,500 lbs of P 6

7 Total Phosphorus ( mg/l ) The Lake s Response to Diet & Exercise L. Apopka Mean Monthly Total Phosphorus through September 2016 Farm Buyout Farm Buyout MFW 0.3 Farm BMPs (Recovery Ponds and Alum) TP Target 0.15 Wetland Restoration Stormwater Rule 0.05 Shad Harvest (0.28 2M lbs/yr fish)

8 Re-Growth of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) SAV mostly eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) with some muskgrass (Chara spp) 48 acres 8

9 SAV and Clearer Water Expand Together 9

10 What s Next Lake Habitat Soft Sediment Removal Accelerated Plantings and SAV Colonization Projects Fisheries Management Water Management LANS Infrastructure to accommodate sediment reuse and store water Aquifer Recharge Phosphorus Management P Diet Enhancements meet goal during wet years and accommodate Lake sediment reuse and associated water More Exercise P Removal Enhancements 10

11 Funding the Lake s Restoration 2016 Legislation provides $5M per year for the next decade for efforts dedicated to the restoration of Lake Apopka Thank You, Senator Hayes 11

12 Sediment Removal Promote access, benthic habitat, water quality Dredge being launched for Lake Apopka sediment removal work May 12,

13 Dredge Spoil = Pesticide Remediation WIN-WIN for Lake and LANS Soft sediments used to cap pesticidecontaminated fields, accelerating recovery Applied as thin layers to avoid harming wetlands Raise land elevations to begin offsetting feet of soil loss Utilize water and phosphorus management capabilities on LANS to protect lake 13

14 Current Pesticide Management 14

15 Flood Control Discharge capacity through Apopka- Beauclair and Dora canals is limiting during floods New inlet structures allow District to use LANS for emergency floodwater storage Use stored water for lake level augmentation, wetland restoration and aquifer recharge 15

16 Low Water Levels 16

17 Restoring the North Shore Is Essential 17

18 Plantings Experimenting with SAV restoration using sod-like materials FWC planting floating-leaf and emergent species Photo Credit: Orlando Sentinel 18

19 Lake Habitat Enhancements FWC spatterdock planting 19

20 Fisheries Enhancements FWC installing fish attractors FWC fish stocking 20

21 Partnerships to Enhance Restoration and Ecotourism Audubon of Florida BASS and other angler groups City of Apopka, Town of Oakland, and other municipalities Ducks Unlimited and United Water Fowlers Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (game fish and hunting) Friends of Lake Apopka Green Mountain Scenic Byway Committee Harris Chain of Lakes Restoration Council Lake County Lake County Water Authority Local agricultural producers Local and regional bike trail groups Native Plant Society Oakland Nature Preserve Orange Audubon Orange County USFWS (NAWCA and other partnership opportunities) 21

22 Thank You Anyone who can solve the problems of water will be worthy of two Nobel prizes, one for peace and one for science President John F. Kennedy 22