Friends of Lake Jesup

Meeting called to order at 7:20 PM.

Chairman King stated that Shari King spoke with the Environmental Studies center about a display for the lake restoration. The display will be 10 foot by 5 foot glass display in a new building. It would part of a new environmental museum. The building is under construction now. Pat Barkate can guarantee a public meeting place dedicated to the Friends of Lake Jesup to use for meetings.

Ed Hayes, FFWCC, reported that he met with the District and presented conceptional restoration plans for a disposal site. The District was very receptive. It will extend the hammock out and then cut it off to extend area will invasive can come in. Will have something next month. Once done with the land it will be returned to public land. Beck Ranch site potential for supplemental storage site. He sprayed 600 acres of phragmities and cattails. Berm area looks good. Shoreline enhancement on Marlbed Flats will start up in the next week or two. Once started, he will be happy to conduct a tour if anyone is interested.

Chuck Collins, FDEP, will retire at the end of June. Barbara Bess, his replacement, will come to the meeting next month.

Scott Bear, CH2MHill, Public hearing was held on May 13th. 55 people signed in 18 were residents or non-agency or consultants. 6 written comments were turned in that night. One supported bike lanes. One was against alternative number 4. One was against all alternatives. One was about storm water and two were requesting to be put on a mailing list. Several speakers gave testimonies. Transcripts of the meeting will be available tomorrow and will have copies next month. They met with Federal Highway Administration to work on finalizing report by end of June so that the Corp can review and finalize plan by end on July. Holding pattern should be over by next week. Tara is still pursuing District issue but it looks good. Website should be ready by August.

Chuck Vreeland, FDOT, Scope finalized and signed by end of July. Then will be able to go into development. 0% design team meeting on July 10th at 10:00AM everyone is invited. Scope will be set.

Pete Milam, USACOE, Graham got model to run. He has done a lot of work. Found a more complex hydrodynamic system in and out of the lake. He found there is wind system relationship between Monroe and Jesup. It was able to show correlation from stage readings with model. Confident with results when comparing actual results and results predicted on the computer. The meeting on May 29th will be presented to the project delivery team and anybody that is part of the effort. Official recommendation and cost analysis will not be ready till 6 months down the road. Government cut does not seem to play an important role. It will likely stay open but will be modified to accommodate the model. Decision won’t be decided until at least one week later. Data will be available at the meeting and after the meeting through Robert. In June Gram will come to the meeting to present the model.

Steve Rich, POW, said he went to Palatka a month ago to present to Glen Lowe an idea Friends had on the in basin/out of basin issue. Lowe was pleased as long as he does not have to go back in history. Only use this new system on future projects and projects that have out of basin mitigation. Preservation was a common denominator and created equivalent mitigation ratio. This gives an equivalent ratio to amount of mitigation that stayed in or out of the basin. It will give an indicator of how much mitigation is staying in basin. Glen agreed to talk to Tony and he sees it as promising. Need to send a letter to Glen Lowe in requesting in writing his opinion to allow committing officially if does not respond go to board. Steve will handle letter to Glen.

Chairman King reported that coal train is not going way. No body wants it but cannot seem to get rid of it. It was voted on Tuesday by Orange County to send the 2020 to the voters. The plan will allot $50-150 million for alternative railroad mitigation. There is an alternative alignment in Apopka. Money will be sent to educate voters. Sentinel likely will be for the trains.

Clifton Springs is not dead yet. It could go back in front of the board.

Mark Clifford, SSWCB, Funding money to support the board is stopping due to the muck deposition site and loss of cattle lease. Chairman King, agreed to help SSWCB’s effort to find a new source of funding. One way is to go to the Legislator and request funding. The loss of the cattle lease is not financially significant to the SJRWMD.

Chairman King reported on Sweetwater Creek east branch in Oviedo. This tributary has been known as a polluter for the lake. Seminole County storm water installed a sampler. This is last available site to build storm water treatment facility. Applicant claimed that he knows nothing about the SJRWMD plans for a storm water park. Regina Loving says that she spoke directly to the applicant to put them on warning of the Districts plans for the site. City council board was very receptive 5-10 acres joint-use pond. The results will not be known for awhile.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.