Friends of Lake Jesup
Thursday, January 18, 2001
East Branch (Oviedo) Seminole County Library
DRAFT MINUTES

Chairman Robert King called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Chairman King announced that Regina Lovings, SJRWMD, would not be present and that the Water and Nutrient Study Results would be available for the February meeting.

Chairman King asked for any changes to the minutes

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Chairman King read the Project List letter and sovereignty-submerged letter into the record.

Mark Callahan, CH2MHill, gave a report on the December 11, 2000 Florida Dept. of Transportation meeting with Federal Highway Administration, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and FLJ. Mr. Callahan said it was a very positive meeting. He said FDOT would be sending a letter to the Corps, asking them what their intentions where as to the State Road 46 bridge. He said also that the FDOT is studying options for bridge design without USACOE input.

The group discussed new bridge clearance determined by the Coast guard, at 45 feet.

Chairman King is to meet with the new FDOT District head, Mike Snyder.

Lothian Ager, FFWCC, gave a report on the In-lake Aquatic Habitat Enhancement project proposal. Mr. Ager said this is not really a proposal, it is an idea that has been signed off on and could be approved for funding at the commissioners meeting in March.

Ed Hayes, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, gave an overview of the plan. He said the costs are inclusive except for the cost of hauling the dredged material for off-site disposal.

Bill Daniel said this plan seemed to be in line with FLJ goals.

Chairman King passed around an article on dewatering and decontaminating dredged materials. He said he called and talked to someone from the company and gave an overview of the treatment process, which was successful.

Chairman King asked when FFWCC needed the FLJ recommendation on the draft proposal. Mr. Ager said all he needed was a letter from the FLJ before March. Mr. Daniel made a motion, seconded by Mr. McClay, to give the plan conceptual approval. Another letter to find funding asking for two tier funding, draft plan 5-year program, anything you can do to get this started. (letter attached to minutes).

Mr. Hayes said the contractor should start berm removal next week, with completion in three to four months.

Cecilia Height, Sierra Club, gave a report on the DEP Econ meeting. She also expressed a concern that there was not proper notice of the Seminole County Legislative Committee meeting, held in January. The group discussed sending a letter to Rep. David Mealor, the delegation chair, to encourage the delegation to reconvene. (The letter is attached to the minutes.)

Tom McCord, Black Hammock Association, brought forward a concern that agricultural lands in the Hammock, on which tree farms are now operating, may be generating tail water into the lake. Chairman King asked Ed Torres, Seminole County, who was in attendance, to do a couple of catch samples.

Chairman King reported there had been no meeting of the American Heritage Rivers Initiative.

Chairman King reported the SJRWMD Minimum Flows and Levels task force have not identified minimum flows on the entire system, except Monroe and Jesup.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10.