Pictured above is a photo taken of Keystone Heights Mayor Lyndel Hale and LRCA president Dennis Barnhardt on the shore of Brooklyn Lake behind Sabo’s Restaurant in downtown Keystone Heights.

The picture above was taken a few weeks after the flow began to find its way into one of the last depressions of Brooklyn Lake. Brooklyn Lake is actually made up of ten depressions with depths ranging from 47 feet to 20 feet. Because of its peculiar shape Brooklyn Lake has been thought to have been created from several sinkholes. The last known sinkhole near Brooklyn Lake occurred back in 1984 in the Park of the Palms when the Administrator of the park house was swallowed by a sinkhole.

As proof by the photo above Alligator Creek has had a consistent flow flowing into Brooklyn Lake for over a year. With flows averaging from 2,000,000 to 12,000,000 gallons per day depending on the rainfall. We are currently in the part of the year that is considered to be our dry months, but we have been fortunate enough to have received above average rainfall for the year, which along with the Option #3 and Option #7 pipelines has delivered the rainfall runoff into Brooklyn Lake.

On behalf of the city and community the Mayor and LRCA president would like to thank the Florida Army National Guard, Clay County, E. I. DuPont, and St. Johns River Water Management District for the roles they played in making a dream come true.

The survey we placed in last months issue was done at the request of our membership. It was felt the survey might prove productive in the sense we would receive some feed-back from the community concerning some of the questions raised or suggestions made as a result of the survey. Surprisingly the response was very good. We thought you might be interested in knowing the results of the survey.

We will start by giving you the percentage of the answers to the questions.

Question #1: Are you in favor of a special taxation district to help fund future projects, which concern the water management of our lake region area lakes?

Yes 66 % No 33 %

Question #2: Are you in favor of a well to help augment the flow of water into Brooklyn Lake?

….Yes 58 % No 41 %

Question #4: Are you in favor of the Option #5 pipeline which is a short section of pipe from Lowry Lake to Alligator Creek with the purpose of lowering Lowry Lake by a couple of feet at a determined schedule to increase the flow of water of Alligator Creek into the chain of lakes below Lowry Lake?

Yes 83 % No 8 %

Question #6: Do you feel there is a need to have the sections of Alligator Creek between Blue Pond and Brooklyn Lake cleaned out?

….Yes 83 % No 0 %

Question #7 : Are you in favor of the Clay County Parks and Recreation Dept. repairing the public boat ramp (on Brooklyn Lake) and reopen the lake to the public?

…..Yes 66 % No 24 %

(Note: some of the answers to the questions were “don’t know” or ?.This accounts for the sum of the percentages not equal to 100%)

At press time we were still receiving returned surveys, so if the count changes we will keep you informed.

What amazes me after all these years and as many times as we have published the Communiqué there are still some people who do not understand the concept of the hydrology cycle and whom are not aware of what we were talking about in the survey. There was one survey in particular that was returned and this person had commented that we were concentrating only on Brooklyn Lake and had circled Save Our Lakes. I would like to respond to that person by first saying that Brooklyn Lake is only one of the lakes involved in the “chain of lakes” associated with Alligator Creek. Our primary concern has been to try to enhance the flow of Alligator Creek. It has been a very long time since we have seen a consistent flow of Alligator Creek into Brooklyn Lake.

Being that Brooklyn Lake is considered to be a very “leaky” lake, the seepage from that lake goes into the groundwater. Brooklyn Lake also sets at a higher elevation than most of the lakes in our area and therefore as the water seeps into the ground it helps to rise the water table around the lake and as the water seeks its own level it also causes a rise in the surrounding water table. This effect also has an impact on the lake levels of other lakes. My point is, if we seem to be just concentrating on Brooklyn Lake and not on any of the other lakes there is a reason for this.

With the completion of the Option #3 and #7 pipelines, along with the increase in rainfall, we have seen Lowry Lake, Magnolia Lake and Brooklyn Lake water levels increase. Remember Magnolia Lake has similar characteristics to that of Brooklyn Lake. It may not “leak” or seep as much as Brooklyn but it does have a sandy bottom with seepage, which in turn helps to increase the level of the water table. Here again Magnolia Lake sets at a level higher than Brooklyn and therefore the seepage can have an impact on the water table as well.

As Brooklyn Lake continues to rise the next recipient in the chain of lakes will be Lake Geneva. The “chain of lakes” goes on to Old Field Pond and Half Moon Lake.

(No report at this time)

We made mention in last months issue that our districts Florida Representative Joe Pickens was going to look into the possibilities of state appropriations through the legislature budget in hopes to help with the funding of our lake restoration projects and a study needed for the Option #5 pipeline.
Did you know that back in 1957 the Federal and State governments appropriated funds to do a study? Several studies were done by the United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) and the Florida Geological Survey. Florida legislature also passed a bill authorizing county commissioners to spend money for dams, flood gates and other structures.

(Source: newspaper article September 20, 1957, Bradford County Telegraph)

“Lake level rising in Keystone area”

“Some hope for the land-locked property owners was voiced at a meeting of the Lake Brooklyn Association held in the Keystone Heights Woman’s Club last Saturday night. It was reported that due to recent rains Sand Hill Lake is spilling into Magnolia, and that if Magnolia rises another foot, water will begin to flow into Gator Creek, which empties into Brooklyn Lake. Carl Carnes, president of the association, said that the level in Brooklyn has risen about two and half inches since the fall rains have started. It is estimated that the lake has dropped 20 feet during the four or five years that rainfall has been below normal in this area. Senator Tom Adams of Orange Park gave an encouraging report pointing to an ultimate solution of the problem. He said that the topographical study applied for several months ago through the Soil Conservation Service has been approved and has advanced on the priority list to where preliminary work is expected to begin before Jan. 1. He said the federal government will pay the cost of this work. A team is already in the area to gather data for a geological study of Clay, Bradford, Alachua and Union Counties, Adams said. A Federal appropriation of $150, 000 was made for this project to be matched by state funds, Adams said, and the 1957 legislature made necessary appropriation. The Senator predicted that a State Geological Survey team will be in the area within the next few weeks to take borings and gather other data over an 18 month period. Adams stressed the point that there is no quick solution to the watershed problem, but expressed hope that “we will ultimately see sufficient control structures and reservoirs in this area to keep a constant water level in our lakes.” He said that the 1957 legislature passed a general bill authorizing boards of county commissioners to spend money for dams, flood gates, and other such structures that might be necessary in a long range water control.”

Question: what ever became of that 1957 bill?

If that is the case then maybe we could get the county to help with funding for Option #5? The county funded the Option #3 pipeline. First we need to come up with funds to have a study done for Option #5, which the SJRWMD claims would be required in order to apply for a permit for the pipeline. The study is for how the pipeline and draw-down will impact the wetlands on Lowry Lake which is on a military base.

St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board has passed its new budget of $245,576,724 for the year 2006. According to the news brief in the “Streamlines” newsletter, “The Board approved the $245.6 million budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 2005, maintaining its 0.462 millage rate. “Our district is experiencing rapid growth,” says Governing Board Chairman David Graham. “With growth comes added responsibilities and an increased tax base. Fortunately, the increased tax base provides additional revenue that will help us address our growing responsibilities for preserving and protecting our water resources.” The adopted budget is about $29,000,000 million, or 13 percent, more than the previous year. The primary reasons for the increase are additional ad valorem tax revenues from increases in property values, federal funding received for restoration, water resource development, and from District sources such as permit fees, land management fees and interest on investments. Some of these additional funds will be used to help local governments implement water resource development, water supply and stormwater projects; finance future pesticide cleanup at the north shore restoration of Lake Apopka; assist in funding the Indian River Lagoon Canal I Rediversion Project; renovate and repair District facilities; and expand the Districts Water Conservation Public Awareness Campaign”. (Source: SJRWMD winter issue “Streamlines”, article by Malissa Dillon)

According to the pie graph that was shown, the breakdown of the budget was as follows: 63 % ($154,702,457) to Acquisition, restoration and public works, 14 % ($35,022,807) to Management and administration, 7 % ($16,542,019) to Regulation, 7 % ($16,519,249) to operation and Maintenance of lands and works, 7 % ($18,481,753) to Water Resources Planning, and monitoring, 2 % ($4,308,439) Outreach. (What is “outreach”?)

This is all great news if the SJRWMD budget includes the restoration projects in Keystone Heights, unfortunately there is no mention of Keystone Heights in their budget. Could this mean that SJRWMD will be helping our local government? Back in 1993 the SJRWMD was working on a budget of $100,363,967. They increased their budget that year by 34% to $125,441,477. (Source: Florida Times Union) Today it is double that of 1993. Back in the 1990’s SJRWMD paid the University of Florida $400,000 to do a study.

The mission statement of St. Johns River Water Management District reads as follows: “We will ensure the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the District and the state of Florida”.