Friends of Lake Jesup

Chairman Robert King called the meeting to order.

The group approved the November meeting minutes as presented.

Chairman King discussed the correspondence that had occurred since the November meeting with regard to the Florida Bass Conservation Center. He said the FBCC is requesting $6 to $7 million that will be paid equally with from state and federal funds. King said the group had approved the concept at the November meeting and was now being requested to provide a letter of support for the FBCC to be sent to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission when the board of directors meets next week in Tallahassee. King said Ed Moyers, FFWCC, needs a letter sent to the board and then to the legislature, certain senators and representative Mr. Moyers has identified. He explained that the expansion of the FBCC would enable the Center to provide the bass needed to restock the lake when the restoration is completed, five years in the future. Bill Daniel made a motion to have Chairman King proceed with the letter and disseminate it on the email trail.

Chairman King introduced Joel Martin who reported that he had sighted two manatees in the Lake near the Black Hammock Restaurant & Fish Camp.

Pete Milam, USACOE, gave a report on the first meeting of the study team. He referred to an email he sent to Chairman King that shows a realistic schedule. He said the first report, Preliminary Restoration Plan, is due in April. He said hopes to have a draft copy to share at the next meeting. He said the current schedule shows reporting to DOT in April 2003 with recommended hydrologic reconnection plans. He said that extends DOT's original schedule by 6 to 8 months. Chairman King said this should keep DOT on its current funding schedule.

Chairman King reported that all the disks from Dr. Gary Zarillo's hydrologic model study have been turned over to the Corps.

Chairman King said the representatives from FDOT and CH2MHill were not able to attend the meeting but he had spoken to Scott Bear and Harold Webb and had ascertained that they were nearing completion of their study phase and would go into a holding pattern in anticipation of the data from the Corps.

Mr. Milam added that he has been in contact with DOT and said they will report as soon as possible when they have made a determination on Government Cut so that question in the bridge design can be answered as early as possible. He said DOT and the Corps might be able to share the Environmental Assessment portion of the studies that will be done by both agencies.

Carla Palmer, SJRWMD, reported that the governing board gave the go ahead on the SWIM plan for the Middle Basin. Chairman King said the 76-page document is on the Internet right now.

Ms. Palmer gave an update of the stormwater park project. She said there are 13 sites identified in the Lake Jesup basin. She said there is a second site chosen, on the north shore of Lake Howell, next to a Seminole County site, but the land is very expensive.

Chris Jepson, representative from the City of Oviedo, said he was willing to set up a meeting for Ms. Palmer and Mr. King with Oviedo City Manager Gene Williford to discuss the stormwater park program.

Bill Daniel gave a report on the progress of his submerged lands delineation project. Chairman King said the significance of the results and the letters Mr. Daniel received from FDEP (attached to the minutes) all agencies purchasing lands will be affected by this new elevation of 4.5 feet. He said there are several things that must be done now, including acceptance by the FLJ, education of all agencies of the new elevation, and pushing the Governor and Cabinet to make a formal determination.

Chairman King said the gentlemen from Mote Marine Institute had not arrived so there would be no report on the Stingray research project in Lake Jesup.

Ed Hayes, FFWCC, gave a report on the completion of funding for Futch Property berm removal. He said there is a little more than $100,000 left in the berm removal. He said he didn't need it for any of his projects but it could be transferred to the SJRWMD for removal of more berms, according to Chuck Collins of FDEP. Chairman King said vegetation projects had also been discussed in regard to the use of the money. Ms. Palmer said she would use it for stormwater treament projects for load reduction into Lake Jesup.

Chairman King asked for all those interested in using the leftover money to put their ideas together in a formal manner by the next meeting, whether it is for stormwater projects or for berm removal. Chairman King said he would talk to Seminole County to see if they could put the money to use.

Chairman King said he had spoken to Ed Torres, Seminole County, and the homeowner “flooding” problem that had come up several months ago has apparently been solved.

There being no other reports, Chairman King adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m.