Water Authority Launches New Website for NuRF (Issue #13)

Staff has created a new website for the Nutrient Reduction Facility (NuRF).  This new website, www.lcwanurf.org was developed in response to the public’s questions about this state of the art facility and its work to clean up polluted water entering the Harris Chain of Lakes.  Unique to this website is a 24-hour a day webcam installed on top of the 200,000 storage tank.  The webcam provides visitors with a panoramic view of the facility and see the wildlife that frequent the site.

Other website news:

·         The Water Authority’s website, www.lcwa.org has been updated with user-friendly features.  We welcome any suggestions on how to make this website work for citizens;

·         We have added a new interactive map of the water quality sampling and boat ramp locations in Lake County on  www.lcwa.org; and 

·         Due to budget cuts at Lake County, the Water Authority is now overseeing the popular Lake County Water Atlas, http://www.lake.wateratlas.usf.edu/

Your one-stop shop for all lake information in the county.

Exploring Our Water Resources!

Looking Back at 2009! (Volume #10)

Happy New Year to our Water Information Network Patrons!
We are looking forward to 2010 being an exciting year of projects focused on improving our Harris and Clermont Chain of Lakes. However, it is always nice to look back on the previous year and contemplate your successful projects and what you have left to do.

Top Ten Highlights for 2009:

1. October 14^th Grand Opening for the Nutrient Reduction Facility drew over 300 citizens and dignitaries. It was an opportunity to showcase this $7-million dollar facility & its role in cleaning up Lake Apopka water.
2. Completion of the Lake Griffin canal dredging project. Starting in 2008 this project was spearheaded by the LCWA to facilitate proposed fluctuation of the Harris Chain of Lakes.
3. LCWA awarded $500,000 in stormwater grants to local cities looking to clean-up polluted water from entering our lakes.
4. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission awarded the LCWA a $1 million dollar grant to assist with Lake Beauclair restoration. This restoration project will remove 1.4 million cubic yards of sediment full of nutrients that negatively impact the lake.
5. LCWA Board awarded over $24,376 in grant money to local schoolteachers and community groups to support efforts for increasing awareness of freshwater quality issues.
6. Completion of the public fishing pier at the Bourlay Historic Nature Park in Leesburg.
7. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service awarded the LCWA over $20,000 to assist with upland restoration of pasture. The USFWS is interested in partnering with local agencies managing public lands to support restoration of these impacted lands for endangered species.
8. Donation of a 19-acre Railroad corridor to the City of Leesburg to enhance their citywide plan to increase multi-use recreation trails. As part of the 2,300-acre Flat Island Preserve, the RR Corridor was no longer a focus for LCWA and it seemed fitting to donate the property to the city for their active recreation efforts.
9. Continued funding for the University of Florida's LAKEWATCH program, which has been a successful citizen-driven lakes monitoring program. All data appears on the Lake County Water Atlas for all to view.
10. Establishment of a Lake County Sheriff Marine Patrol Substation at Hickory Point Recreational Facility to increase response times to emergencies on the water.

Progress towards cleaning up The Harris Chain-of-Lakes (Volume #7) 

Staff is happy to report that the Nutrient Reduction Facility or as it is affectionately called, "The NuRF" is doing its job reducing phosphorus in water coming from Lake Apopka and entering into Lake Beauclair. This $7.272 million facility, sitting along the Apopka-Beauclair Canal started operations in March 2009. This project uses off-line alum injection to remove pollutants (i.e., phosphorus) in water flowing out of Lake Apopka into the rest of the Harris Chain of Lakes. Lake Apopka was historically one of the most polluted lakes in Florida, but restoration efforts are underway and there have been some signs of improvement. Still, discharge from the lake is the single largest source of controllable pollution in Lake County. The NuRF's objective is to focus on reducing the pollution that has degraded our lakes in the past.

The Nutrient Reduction Facility (NuRF) removed 827 pounds (376 kilograms) of total phosphorus between March 2, 2009 and June 10, 2009. This equates to a 71% reduction in total phosphorus polluting Lake Beauclair. Water coming into the facility has a phosphorus reading of 125 parts per billion (ppb) while the treated water coming out of the NuRF facility and entering into Lake Beauclair is 37 ppb, which is within 5 ppb of the target Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) established for Lake Beauclair by the state. During this time, the NuRF used slightly over 300 thousand gallons of alum to treat 213 million cubic feet, or 1.5 billion gallons of water flowing from Lake Apopka.

The NuRF is a cooperative water quality improvement effort by the Lake County Water Authority, the St. Johns River Water Management District, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

OPEN HOUSE at the NuRF in October!
Public Welcome, check www.lcwa.org for date and times.

Water Authority Nears Completion of Water-Quality Restoration Facility (Volume #5)

The Lake County Water Authority is about six weeks from completion of the highly anticipated Nutrient Reduction Facility (NuRF). The NuRF is a critical component of an unprecedented multi-agency effort to implement local water clean-up projects.

Located along the Apopka-Beauclair Canal near Astatula, the NuRF uses a modern version of centuries-old drinking water technology to remove the majority of algae-feeding phosphorus compounds flowing from Lake Apopka. Continuous algal blooms, fed by elevated levels of phosphorus compounds, shade out and prevent the growth of beneficial underwater plants necessary for the lake to function properly. Water coming from Lake Apopka is the single largest controllable source of these phosphorus compounds in the Harris Chain of Lakes.

The facility, the largest of its kind in the world, is a cooperative effort between the Lake County Water Authority, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The St. Johns River Water Management District provided the land while the FDEP provided half the construction cost. The Water Authority provided the other half of the construction cost and will operate and maintain the facility.

Once operational, the NuRF will provide immediate improvement to the quality and clarity of the water coming from Lake Apopka. As water clarity increases, underwater plants and fish are expected to recover. This change will improve environmental conditions and recreational opportunities within the 22,800- acre Harris Chain. To see a picture of this facility under construction, please click here.

(Volume #5 posted on 1/8/09)

Resolution to the Lake Apopka Dispute (Volume #4)

As part of the settlement agreement, the City of Apopka would not withdraw water directly from Lake Apopka to supplement available water in the NSRA for the purpose of the City's permit. The City would be permitted to use only what may be available in the NSRA. The Water Management District agrees not to make any changes to the minimum discharge or the regulatory schedule for the Apopka Beauclair Lock and Dam or the Burrell Structure for the purposes of accommodating the City of Apopka's requested use. The Lake County Water Authority will withdraw its Petition for Administrative Hearing allowing the Water Management District to continue the permitting process. The St. Johns River Water Management District and the City of Apopka will enter into a memorandum of understanding that places further limitations on the availability of water from the North Shore Restoration Area and ensures that water is available in the NSRA for the Water Management District's restoration objectives.

How is this good for Lake County Citizens:

1. By addressing this issue in a cooperative and collaborative manner we have been able to resolve the Water Authority's concerns and protect Lake County's lakes without costly litigation between three publicly funded entities.
2. Amount of water coming down the Lake Apopka-Beauclair canal will not be changed due to the City of Apopka's request, which protects our Chain of Lakes.
3. The Water Authority can continue its work to improve water quality for the Harris Chain of Lakes with the construction of the Nutrient Reduction Facility (NuRF) project.

Thank you to all those that made the trip to Palatka to share your concerns about our lakes, it really made a difference!

Michael J. Perry, Executive Director

HEADING TO PALATKA! (Volume #3)

In the last W.I.N. e-mail, I wrote about how important it is for the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board to direct its staff to establish Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) for the Harris Chain of Lakes. Having the MFLs set for the Harris Chain will take the guess work out of how much water can be taken out of our lakes and how low lake levels can go without harming the lake and wildlife.

The LCWA Board and staff will be present at the District’s meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. to express LCWA’s concerns about the need to set these levels before any cities, counties, private businesses or developments are allowed to take water from area lakes.

Citizens organizing a group to go to Palatka:

If you are interested in going to Palatka to express your concerns about the lack of MFLs, taking water from county lakes, and the health of our lakes, please contact Carolyn Dillon at Carolyn@TheROWwebsite.com.

Ms. Dillon is organizing a group to go to Palatka on September 9th. She informs me that there will be a $13.00 per person cost associated with leasing a bus to go. Payment can be sent to Carolyn M. Dillon, 27938 Tammi Drive, Tavares, FL. 32778.

Now is the time to speak up!

Michael J. Perry Executive Director



Volume #1

On behalf of the LCWA Board of Trustees, we are pleased to announce our new Water Issue Network or W.I.N email network. This service will provide information on current water resource issues affecting Lake County from the agency focused on protecting and improving the water resources of Lake County. The Board and staff are dedicated to providing service to the citizens and keeping all interested persons in the water loop.

We hope to provide these email updates when there are newsworthy projects or events that are of benefit or detriment to our lakes. These emails will provide you with the following:

• First hand knowledge of what is going on with our lakes;
  
• What citizens can do to help our lakes;
  
• The truth behind water levels and rainfall;
  
• How taxpayer dollars are being spent to improve our lakes;
  
• Opportunities to ask questions of expert staff; and
  
• Upcoming events that are open to the public to tour facilities and interact with Board and staff.