2008

Update from the Lake Committee


Charlotte Engineering & Surveying has completed their survey of Placido Bayou’s shorelines and made recommendations on lake bank restoration and stabilization. The main conclusion of their report is that the current degree of erosion does not pose an imminent danger to residences or roads. Dense planting is recommended for the worst erosion sites. Also, erosion monitoring is recommended through planting of survey stakes along selected lake banks. The report will be valuable for the years to come, especially in case lake bank restoration and rehabilitation of certain areas becomes necessary in the future. Copies of the report are available for perusal in the PBCA office. 

 

   On November 11 the Lake Doctors planted replacement plants and carried out dense planting on the North bank of Lake Messina and test planting in lakes Taranto, Cypress, Constance, Egret, Heron, Flamingo and Sandpiper. Lake Placido needed no test planting because several species were planted previously along the lakeshore of a private residence. The results of the test plantings will be used for decision-making for future large-scale planting.


Over the past four months the lakes have been treated by the Lake Doctors. The results look promising. The filamentous algae in lakes Messina, Taranto and Cypress have been successfully treated with environmentally friendly algaecides.  However, remnants of these tenacious algae can still be seen and will need to be treated, especially in the spring and summer when the higher water temperature favors their growth. The torpedo grass, alligator weed and duckweed have been treated as well but need to be kept in check periodically. Since fairly large quantities of torpedo grass were interwoven with the lawns' St. Augustine grass, the latter suffered from the treatment and turned brow along the shoreline. The good news is that the grass will recover gradually.

 

Six intrepid volunteers were trained by LAKEWATCH in water sampling in Lake Constance. The samples, which are to be collected by canoe from two central locations in lakes Constance, Lucerne, Placido, Heron and Flamingo once a month, are sent to a laboratory at the University of Florida, which analyzes them on the Nitrogen and Phosphorous content, Chlorophyll and clarity. LAKEWATCH is committed to reduce nutrient pollution and improve water quality in Tampa Bay and other waterways in the state.


Frank Hartvelt, Chair, Lake Committee