Friends of Lake Jesup

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m.

Approval of Minutes of September 18, 2003: Fix sentence about Winter Springs City Manager. “Chairman King said he had seen a study that states the Winter Springs City Manager said the WMD had no problem with the idea of surface water withdrawal from Lake Jesup.” Chairman King said that the City Manager’s statement is not part of the study, as that sentence might indicate.

Mail and membership: Chairman King reported Troy Deal, president of Aztec Development, who read the newspaper article, and apparently bid on part of the dredging project, has volunteered time and energy on the dredging project. He said the company’s focus was land spreading the muck.

Chairman King reported the Oviedo City Council has taken no action to replace Regina Bereswill. He reported that Commissioner Randy Morris will be making a decision on providing a representative from Seminole County and it will probably be someone from the Public Works Department.

Chairman King presented the certificate of appreciation to Steve Rich.

Old Business:

1. Update on progress of Restoration Plan / Hydraulic Model - Pete Milam, USACOE: Mr. Milam was absent. Chairman King said he had not spoken to Mr. Milam, but had heard from others that some progress had been made on the project.

1. Update of SR 46 Bridge Project - Scott Bear / Chuck Vreeland, FDOT: Mr. Bear reported distributed preliminary plans. He reported the geotechnical firm has bored 12-15 holes and has 18 more to go. He said the survey firm would soon begin surveying the areas where the geotechnical firm has completed borings.

   Mr. Bear reported the identification of right-of-way and acquisition plans should begin in early February. He said processing of the PD&E study was delayed until the end of October.

   Mr. Bear reported that Evelyn Smart, US Coast Guard, would recognize Government Cut as the navigational channel, so the bridge can be built at 25 feet rather than 45.

2. Update of Muck Removal Project - Ed Hayes, FWCC: My Hayes said he had nothing to report. Cecilia Height, Sierra Club, said she was concerned about the accuracy of the statements made in the newspaper articles with regard to the level of toxicity of the muck. Mr. Hayes said the reporter did not question him on that subject, but the report on the toxicity was that the muck was within limits.

   Ms. Height said she had also heard that Seminole Soil & Water Conservation District was also questioning the toxicity report. Michael Barr, a member of the SSWCD present at the meeting confirmed that the board was considering doing its own study of the muck.

3. FDEP permitting requirements - Barbara Bess: Chairman King gave a report on his meeting with Vivian Garfein, FDEP. He said she agreed that the permitting process was not designed for lake restoration and that the process needed another element that doesn’t exist. He said she had planned to meet with upper level WMD and FWC managers in order to determine acceptable “flexibility and creativity” for the permitting staff. Chairman King asked that each agency agreed on a method of calculating impacts, and it was his opinion that the solution would become apparent. He confirmed that the status of the project was the same as it was in September. Ms. Bess confirmed that the meeting would take place Oct. 21 and that she would probably be in attendance.

   Cecilia Height, Sierra Club, said she had consulted with her executive board, due to concerns with the muck disposal, toxicity, etc., and that she and the board have decided to withdraw endorsement of the lake dredging project. Mr. Rich asked if that meant Sierra would challenge the project and she said not at this time.

   Chairman King said if Sierra could not endorse the dredging and did not recommend that the project be halted, then it needed to take a clear position and have alternative recommendations. Ms. Height said she wanted to focus on using Sanford’s Site 10. She also asked Mr. Hayes to go over the pricing for transporting the muck off-site. He responded that transporting to the county landfill was estimated at $40 million. She said her recollection was wrong, in that she recalled it was closer to $16 million. Ms. Height said her board was considering lobbying for additional funds for the project.

   Mr. Hayes wanted to know if anyone knew when the dikes were erected on the Futch property. Bill Daniel said he thought they went up in the 1950s. Chairman King asked that anyone with substantial information on the subject please pass it on to Mr. Hayes.

4. Equation suggestion / In-basin status letter - SJRWMD response: Chairman King said the WMD said if the group wanted to keep track of the mitigation and it could have standing in a hearing. Chairman King asked if there was someone who could monitor ERPs. Ms. Bess said she might have someone on staff and Shari King said she was willing to do it. Chairman King asked Mr. Rich if he could teach someone how to do the calculations. He said he could. Ms. Bess she could have a staff person work on going back to the first of the year, as long as she could tie it in to TMDLs. Chairman King said he would table a decision on the issue until November.

5. Surface water withdrawal location - input letter to SJRWMD: Chairman King said Jim Bourg was supposed to bring a copy of the study to the meeting, but was absent. He said he would follow up with Mr. Bourg. Chairman King said Mr. Hayes’ consultants did provide a site. He said as soon as he gets the study from Jim Bourg, he would send it off to the WMD with a recommendation cover letter.

Reports of other members:

F. Seminole Soild & Water Conservation District / Michael Barr - Mr. Barr provided an update on the district projects.

G. Middle basin Coordination meeting report: Regina Lovings confirmed that the next meeting would be held on Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. in the Altamonte Springs office.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.