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President’s Message
It’s election time again. It feels very strange to write that, given that many of us have yet to recover from
the undecided election of 2000, and that the next election is not supposed to be until 2002. However
strange it seems, many cities have council seats up for grab this November. There is also the matter of
the extension of the sales tax. Despite the import of the decisions on the ballot, turnout is expected to be
low. We often hear about how terrible it is to have very low voter turnout, but I feel that my vote carries
much more weight when many citizens stay home. Each of us who go to the polls speak for perhaps as
many as 10 other people. If we motivate a handful of like-minded voters to go vote we can really have an impact.
The city elections are important not only to residents, but also to Lake County at large. Some have
described the behavior of some of the cities as, “like a 21st century land rush”. Some cities appear to be
trying to acquire territory as quickly as possible. Leesburg, for example, cannot manage the infrastructure
it is already responsible for, yet recently annexed land very distant from the city center that is promised to
double the population. Clermont is completely out of control and Minneola is laying the ground work for
providing urban services to Sugarloaf. Eustis is working to encourage sprawl far to the east, in the Wekiva
protection area, by promising capacity at its new wastewater plant. There continues to be little apparent
progress on urban service boundaries. The development community continues to take advantage of the divide and conquer strategy by playing the County against the City in development cases. Whomever
offers the least resistance and maximum profits is the loser and gets the development.
These and other “city issues” have a tremendous impact on the lives of everyone in Lake County. The
people making decisions about these matters will be chosen by the few city residents who turn out in
November. If you live in a city you can help now by contacting the candidates in your city, find out what their positions are, and share your knowledge with the membership at the September and October
meetings. If you live in the unincorporated county find out everything you can about your nearby cities, (you might learn you are soon to be surrounded by a city), and come to the meetings.
Of course, every voter in Lake County gets to choose the fate of the 15-year extension of the 1-cent sales
tax. The sales tax extension is also connected to growth issues. Most governments depend on sales tax
revenues to help them lessen the apparent strain on infrastructure, (streets, parks, utilities, etc.), and
services such as fire and police, caused by rapid poorly planned growth. If the extension fails government
will have go to residents to get money to pay for growth. If governments have to collect directly to pay for
growth their enthusiasm for bad growth will wane. Some of the most contentious meetings the County Commission has held have featured packed rooms filled with angry taxpayers upset about $100 property
tax increase.
Growth costs more than fire taxes or garbage fees, but the bill is spread over enough time that many
people do not notice it. We need to work to force growth to pay for itself. (Is this possible?) When growth
doesn’t pay for itself the people should have to pay the bill right now. Imagine the excitement zoning cases would generate if each meeting was followed by taxpayers mailboxes filled with bills due and
payable before the next zoning meeting.
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ON THE AGENDA
Tuesday, September 18, 2001 1:00PM
Board of County Commissioners
Round Courthouse, Tavares.
Workshop on the Western Expressway Extension Project. The workshop will be a major (and perhaps
the only) opportunity for Lake County citizens to express their opinions on the project in its entirety.
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001 7:30PM
LCCC General Meeting
Eustis Women’s Club
In addition to general discussion of environmental and growth issues, Dr. Joseph Siry of Rollins College,
State Co-ordinator for the Florida Climate Alliance will present a program on the impact of global warming in Florida.
Saturday, Sept. 29 9AM - 3PM
Water Fest 2001
Hickory Point Park
Jump to Details
Saturday, October 6, 2001
Black Bear Festival
Umatilla
Jump to Details
Monday, Oct. 8, 2001, 7PM
LCCC Board of Directors
Sun Cycle Shop
Burleigh Blvd, Tavares
Thursday Oct. 18, 2001, 7PM
LCCC General Meeting
Eustis Women’s Club
County Issues discussion and a presentation about Holloway Irrigation Systems (tentative). Developed by
a Lake County surgeon and horticulturalist, the Holloway Flood Plain Irrigation and Recycling System has the potential to reduce water consumption and pollution in commercial horticulture.
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Bob Forbes writing about Lake Water Levels
Every member of the Lake County Conservation Council brings unique interests and talents to our
organization. Bob Forbes, an at-large member of our Board of Directors, is an avid recreational boater who
has undertaken to keep track of the water levels of Lake County’s waterways for the past several years. These are some of his thoughts about what he’s been observing lately–
Although the extreme three-year drought in Lake County has eased somewhat this summer, residents
naturally remain more aware of the level of water in the county’s 1,500+ lakes. The drought has exposed
pier pilings to degrees not seen by most of us. Boaters find that the shallow water doesn’t allow them to
float their boats off their mooring cradles and this year’s shore-lines are many feet removed from the shorelines of years past.
South Lake County has experienced the most extreme drop in water level with levels ranging from 6 to 9
feet below the normal. In central Lake County, on the Harris chain of lakes, the level-drop has been
almost half that of the Palatlakaha chain in Clermont. Their chain of lakes have become disconnected by
dried-up connecting canals and their shore-lines have receded far from the boat houses. Geology and history explains this difference.
Geologically, many central Florida lakes are the remains of ancient sinkholes–areas where erosion of
underground limestone created deep holes which may or may not penetrate the local aquifers. Sinkhole
lakes are often isolated from one another and their water levels are completely dependent on the balance
between rainfall and evaporation. Other lakes contain springs and seeps that replenish their waters
regardless of rainfall. And while some “chains of lakes” are entirely natural, many more have been created
or extended by the digging of canals and the erection of dams. Because of the dams bracketing the
Harris chain of lakes, the water levels in its lakes can, within limits, be managed and do not fluctuate as widely as those in the Clermont chain.
Since I live on the Harris chain that includes the lakes upstream of Burrell Lock in Haines Creek (Lakes
Eustis, Harris, Dora, Beauclair, and Carlton), those are the levels that I measures daily. I’m happy to
report that the my measurements show an increasing trend since a low of 59'11" in June to 60'11" in mid
-August. (The Army Corps of Engineers has set the “normal” water level at 63'; the 100-year-flood level is 66').
These measurement numbers represent the lake level above “mean sea level” (MSL). The numbers are
often referred to as National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD). They are expressed as decimals fractions
of a foot. (It’s an inexcusable shame that the United States didn’t convert to the metric system years ago.)
I have made a sample gauge (like the dipstick to measure fuel in a tank) that works for me and I have
calibrated it from weekly reports that I receive from the St Johns River Water Management District up in
Palatka for the entire Ocklawaha River. Since I receive these reports, I don’t actually have to measure the water levels myself, but it is interesting to keep tabs on “my” lakes as I walk my dog.
This the first of what we hope will be an ongoing series of articles about the many ways in which LCCC
members make their concern for the environment a part of their daily life in Lake County.
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Kudos
At its September 4, 2001 meeting, the Lake County BCC officially recognized and thanked Dr. Bernie Yokel for four years of service, from 1997 to 2001, on the county’s Environmental Protection Advisory
Board. Bernie has had an outstanding public-service career as an environmental advocate. His accomplishments are too numerous to mention, but the ones that mean most to LCCC are his ongoing
presence on our Board of Directors and the many times he has served as the Council’s voice before the County Commission.
Congratulations, Bernie, and thanks for everything you’ve done for the environment in Lake County and around the world.
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Is our shoreline vegetation worth protecting?
What is the importance of shoreline vegetation? Is it worth protection or should it all be eliminated
whenever possible? As strange as it may seem, I have never heard anyone in his or her right mind say
that we need to remove all the vegetation from the rainforest. Yet, there are many individuals in this County who don't realize that the shoreline vegetation serves the same purpose for the lake as the
vegetation does in the rainforest.
The shorelines are the most productive areas in our lakes. So consequently, this is also the location
where most of the life occurs in our lakes. The vegetation that lives in these areas not only provides
habitat for most of the wildlife in the lakes, but also serves as a primary food source. The removal of this
vegetation causes an effect on the lake that is similar to the cutting down the rainforest. Instead of having
a shoreline filled with food, shelter, and reproductive areas, we create desert like environment. The
species that are dependent on these areas for survival are eliminated. Thus the total number of organisms
that would ordinarily inhabit each lake is dramatically decreased. This is an extremely important fact if you are a fisherman or one who enjoys bird watching.
I personally feel that lakefront property owners should be allowed to utilize the lakefront. However, with
this use comes added responsibility. Almost all the lakes are considered Waters of the State and as
such are owned by all citizens of the State of Florida. Thus when you use these areas, it is your
responsibility to know what negative impact your changes will make and minimize these impacts wherever
possible. For example if you clear a swimming area, only make the clearing as wide as necessary, not the maximum width. You will find it saves you money and your back. You should also make
improvements to the shoreline by removing exotics or by planting native beneficial vegetation. This will help to offset your negative impacts.
In closing, it is a privilege to be able to use these shoreline areas. If we cannot use these areas
responsibly and wisely the citizens could and should revoke some of these privileges. It's halftime and our
lakes are down 50 to 0. We lakefront property owners can either continue to be the problem or we can try to be part of the solution. For my children's sake, I choose to be the latter.
Learn to enjoy the natural beauty of the real Florida.
The Anonymous Limnologist
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WATER CONSERVATION
A TOP PRIORITY AS DROUGHT CONTINUES
W ater conservation is a pretty basic idea – make beneficial reductions in water use and reduce
losses of water from available supplies. For example, we can reduce water use by placing rain sensors on
irrigation systems for our homes, golf courses and businesses. That way we don't water grass or crops
when the soil is already moist. We can reduce water losses by fixing leaking pipes and by capping free
-flowing artesian wells so that water is not wasted. Also, we can reduce losses by protecting the quality
of existing water supplies. For example, by reducing the amount of fertilizer that we apply on lawns, golf
courses and crops, we can reduce nutrient inflows to our lakes --and algae populations. We can starve
toxic algae if we do not feed them. Water conservation is about protecting both the quality and quantity of
our water resources, and it is everybody's responsibility. Unfortunately, Lake County has a higher per capita use of water than its surrounding counties. We need to do a better job of conserving water.
In one of his final actions as Chair of the Board of Trustees, Lake County Water Authority (LCWA), Joe Hill
established a Water Conservation Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force was to provide advice to water users and LCWA on ways to maximize water conservation and to promote the implementation of
specific conservation actions. Joe established the Task Force not only because Central Florida was in the
third year of the drought of record, but also because the Floridan Aquifer is a finite resource that in some
areas is over appropriated. In parts of Lake County and other places in Central Florida, we have been
mining our primary source of water, the Floridan Aquifer, for decades – we are pumping more water than
rainfall is recharging over time in these areas. Joe recognized that conservation is one of the best ways to extend the availability of potable Floridan water for current and future users.
Citizens on the Task Force represented a wide range of interests in the County. Under the leadership of
Everett Kelly, who chaired the Task Force, these people worked as volunteers for months gathering information, evaluating problems, and formulating recommendations. Their recommendations are
highlighted below:
1. Significantly expand public information and school programs about water conservation. The Task Force report suggests many specific actions for the Board and other entities to consider.
2. Link growth to water availability as required by State statute.
3. Protect high recharge areas from inappropriate development. In Lake County the highest recharge area is the ridge system near Clermont. (One of LCCC's concerns about the Sugarloaf
Development in that area is the impact on ground water recharge and use.)
4. Evaluate the concept of a regional Water Supply Agency to address long-term needs. Such an agency would be supported by bonds and would help to provide the institutional and physical
infrastructure needed to supply affordable water for all users in the region. We need to build a regional water supply system to meet future demands effectively.
5. Assess and expand the use of reclaimed water by municipalities and communities.
6. Support "Florida Friendly" landscaping that requires less water and chemicals.
7. Improve the information used for making water resources decisions. The existing information infrastructure is inadequate for the problems we now face. For example, higher resolution
measurements of rainfall, ground water levels and quality, and deep Floridan aquifer characteristics are needed.
8. Encourage the St. John's River Water Management District to delay issuing Consumptive Use
Permits (CUP's) for 90 days in order to review the procedures and criteria for approving CUP's.
Recommendation 7 turned out to be highly controversial when Task Force Chair Everett Kelly presented the report and recommendations to the LCWA Board in late April 2001. At the time people all over the
County were asking why the SJRWMD was continuing to issue large CUP's when the media were reporting that lakes and wells were drying up – especially in southern Lake County. The Task Force
members had discussed the issue extensively and approved the recommendation unanimously. Members of the Task Force present at the meeting made impassioned arguments for support, but the newly elected
Board of Trustees was unmoved. Unfortunately, the LCWA Board flatly refused to take action on the recommendation in any form.
To request a copy of the report, call the LCWA at 343-3777
Submitted by Nancy Lopez, Recording Secretary/LCCC and member of the Task Force
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Western Expressway Expansion Project
Bad ideas never seem to die in Lake County. Although at least three previous and expensive studies
have indicated that putting an arc of Orlando-oriented expressway through eastern Lake County is neither
economically justified nor likely to alleviate Orlando's traffic congestion, the Orlando-Orange County
Expressway Authority (Expressway Authority) is "studying" the idea again and this time it looks as though they've found an eager audience in the round courthouse.
The Expressway Authority's own guidelines require that a public hearing be held in the planning stages of
a road project – when the question is whether there's a need for the road, period, rather than which exact
portions of Lake County should be sealed in concrete – but the BCC never scheduled such a hearing. It was only after a series of crowded, contentious less-formal gatherings over the summer that our BCC
reluctantly agreed to allow Lake County citizens to speak at a "workshop" session on September 18, 2001.
This is a less-than-ideal situation. Workshops are not hearings; the BCC doesn't have to take a position
on the material presented to them; and the workshop was originally scheduled for the Expressway Authority's presentation of possible expressway alignments (that is, the assumption going into the
workshop is that the road will be built, the question is where).
Still, this is going to be the ONLY opportunity for citizens to state their opinions on the need for a toll
expressway through rural, eastern Lake County and the environmentally sensitive (and legislatively protected) Wekiva River basin. The hope is that if enough citizens from all parts of Lake County make
their opposition known at the workshop, then the BCC will be compelled to reconsider its assumption that
eastern Lake County needs a tollway carved through its heart (much less whether they want to take the
risk that Lake County's gasoline-tax revenues could be garnished in the event, considered likely by some,
that the toll-paying on the Western Expressway fails to generate sufficient income to both maintain the road and pay off its bond debts!)
An ad-hoc alliance of citizens and organizations has done a good job of getting their information into the
county's newspapers which will undoubtedly print stories both before and after the September 18
workshop. For those who have Internet access, a wealth of background information is available that the Stop the Western Expressway Expansion Project website.
The Conservation Council has gone on the record in opposition to the need for the Western Expressway.
We will be voicing that opposition at the workshop, but that's not enough. This is an issue where numbers
matter. At this point, we're trying to reverse the flow of bureaucracy and we need an overflow crowd in the
BCC chambers if we're to have any chance of compelling the BCC to reconsider the need for this road.
LCCC is asking all its members: Please come to the round courthouse at 1PM, Tuesday, September 18 and please bring a friend.
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Vice-President John Burris Resigns
It was with great sadness that the LCCC Board of Directors accepted Vice-President John Burris’
resignation earlier this summer. John’s health has not been good for several years and he felt the time
had come to relocate closer to other family members. We wish him well in his new home and thank him for all his hard work.
Before resigning, John had arranged for LCCC’s autumn programs and we are very grateful for his efforts.
Still, LCCC will need a new Vice-President to fill out John’s term which will end in February of 2003. If
you’re interested in becoming an LCCC officer, please let Egor or any other officer know. In addition to
Vice-President we are looking for members to help Pat Leonard with the telephone tree. Pat tried to notify every LCCC member in advance of an important citizenry meeting; as you can imagine, she’s been
making a lot of phone calls lately and would appreciate your help.
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Merchant Power in Lake County
(Bad ideas that never seem to die, Part 2)
Nearly four hundred concerned Lake County citizens have joined together to form C.A.M.P., Inc. –
Citizens Against Merchant Power. Although Duke Energy withdrew their rezoning request to construct a “peaking” plant in eastern Lake County back in February, C.A.M.P. has learned that the company began
filing new applications almost immediately. Much of Duke’s request/planning activity takes place outside
the county, but no matter how many approvals they get elsewhere, they’ll still have to appear before our county commission to request a zoning change.
In April, C.A.M.P. requested a public hearing before the DEP in April when Duke presented their
application for an air-construction permit for the plant. Due to the nature of the permitting process which
limited discussion to issues relating to air quality, citizens found it difficult to express the breadth of their
concerns which include noise issues, traffic issues, and issues of both groundwater pollution and consumption. Although DEP went on to issue the requested air-construction permit, they commended C.A
.M.P. for the depth of its presentations and their courteousness, clearly signaling their preference for calm, reasoned presentations.
DEP’s permit will expire on April 1, 2003 and assumes that Duke will need 18 months for construction and
3 months for initial tests of the plant before it becomes operational. The lines have been drawn and C.A.M
.P. is ready. Anyone can join C.A.M.P – they have no membership fee and can be contacted by phone at 352-435-1885 or through the Internet at their website: www.CitizensForLakeCounty.org .
Although many believe that increased energy consumption across the United States means that new
energy plants must be built, it is far from clear that putting a privately owned and operated power plant that
is just small enough to avoid several layers of oversight and regulation will benefit Lake County’s environment, its economics, or its cherished (and legally protected) rural lifestyles.
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2001 Florida Black Bear Festival
at Umatilla
The public is invited to a full day of “Bear Festivities” in Umatilla’s beautiful City Park. The Florida Black
Bear Festival is a fun, family-focused, and educational event which is open to the public without any admission charge. Some of the exciting events planned for this year’s festival include:
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Florida’s Author’s Corner
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Field Trips to Bear Country
(sign up early!)
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Children’s Activity Pavillion
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Conservation and Interactive Programs
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“Bear” Merchandise and Vendors
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5K “Run for the Bears”
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and Plenty of Food!!
This year, as in previous years, LCCC will have its tables set up in the Conservation/Interactive
area. Please come and visit or, better yet, sign up at LCCC’s September general meeting to help behind the table!
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Sugarloaf Development Decision Referred to Governor Bush
(Bad Ideas That Never Seem to Die, Part 3)
In a stunning surprise move, Administrative Law Judge Donald Alexander ruled in July that the final
decision on whether to turn Sugarloaf Mountain, the second highest point in Florida, into a golf-course
mega-development rested with Governor Bush. This ruling was sought by the developer after the Board of
County Commissioners voted not to permit the creation of a small city in an area which, even if it were not one of Lake County’s natural treasures, lacks the infrastructure to service it.
Governor Bush has said that he will decide the Sugarloaf question no later than October 30. At a recent
political rally in the villages, Governor Bush said he was reading Sugarloaf e-mails and that he had not
made up his mind in the matter. Lake County voters helped elect Governor Bush in 1998 in part they supported his position that government decisions should be made at the local wherever and whenever
possible. The people of Lake County, through a vote of their County Commission in 2000, made a
decision about the future of Sugarloaf Mountain. That decision, in accordance with the principles outlined
in Lake County’s Comprehensive Plan, was to preserve the current rural character of Sugarloaf Mountain.
This decision was not made in an intransigent opposition to the development of Sugarloaf Mountain but is
instead a statement that development in Lake County, wherever it occurs, should proceed in an orderly
fashion from existing population centers and in a manner consistent with the land-usage sections of the Comprehensive Plan.
The development interests that wish to transform Sugarloaf into a manicured, yet isolated, city treat Lake
County’s Comprehensive Plan with nothing short of contempt. They are convinced that time – and money
– are on their side. The citizens of Lake County can only hope that Florida’s governor does not feel the same way.
Bob Resetar, who has led the opposition to the resurgent Sugarloaf project, has called for concerned
citizens to remind Governor Bush that in the past he has championed the rights of local citizens and their
government to regulate their own affairs. With regard to development on Sugarloaf Mountain, the citizens
and government of Lake County, speaking loudly, clearly, and in accordance with our current, approved Comprehensive Plan, have said that they do not want 2,000+ homes built on Sugarloaf Mountain.
Bob’s grass-roots campaign to save Sugarloaf Mountain does not have a fancy name, but it does have a web site (http://www.savesugarloaf.com ) which, in addition to a meeting schedule, beautiful photographs
of Sugarloaf and frightening maps of what the area might become, contains one of the most complete lists
of names and addresses of elected and appointed officials who share responsibility for the protection of
Florida’s natural beauty and resources. If you don’t have access to the Internet, you can call Bob Resetar
at 407-469-0086 or Barb Turcyn at 352-394-7701 for more information about upcoming events to Save Sugarloaf Mountain.
LCCC has consistently opposed the development of Sugarloaf Mountain, but when it comes to influencing
our governor the opinion of individuals who vote counts more than the opinions of organizations that do not.
There is still time for LCCC members to add their voices to the chorus being heard in the Governor’s Office
. You can help by making a phone call (850-488-7146), sending a fax (850-488-0801) or an email But
the best way to attract an official’s attention is the old-fashioned way by send him a first-class letter telling him how you feel about preserving Sugarloaf Mountain. Governor Bush’s post-office address is very easy
to remember: Gov. Jeb Bush / The Capitol / Tallahassee, FL 32399.
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Lake County WaterFest 2001
WaterFest 2001 is an event sponsored by the Lake County Water Authority. It is to be held Sept. 22,
2001, from 9AM to 3PM. The purpose is to educate people about water issues, including conservation
and lake water quality. In order to attract a wide range of people, we are offering a variety of activities
including musical acts, a magician, Arabian horseback-riders, Audubon birds of prey, food vendors, antique boats, boat rides, children’s activities, fishing simulator, watersports, giveaways, and more.
Special highlights include the musical groups Hindu Cowboys and Who’s Playing Tonight. Also, folk
singers Lisa Perry and Larry Dolamore will perform. On the water we will have a sailing regatta sponsored
by the Lake Eustis Sailing Club and a wakeboarding exhibition by Toyota Marine Sports. For you fishing
enthusiasts, don’t miss the fly-casting and fly-tying demos by the Lake County Flyfishers Association. For the young at heart, Lake Mount Steppers and Drill Team will perform. Also, Bassmasters will be
holding a Big Bass fishing tournament at Hickory Point on the same day.
This is an event which will appeal to all age groups!
There will be no admission fee to Hickory Point on Sept. 22. We are expecting attendance in the range of
1,000 to 2,000, or more. This is an educational community event with participation by several local agencies and many non-profit community groups.
For more information regarding this event, you may contact Patricia Burgos, Conservation Projects Coordinator, Lake County Water Authority, Tavares, FL 352-343-3777, The LCWA website is http://www.lcwa.org .
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