The Worse Drought Since 1998? Showing Effects on the Lakes
(Title on the front page)
Presidents Report by Dennis Barnhardt
Some of the weather meteorologists are saying the current drought we are undergoing is even worse than the drought, which started back in 1998. We are running a rainfall deficit for the three-month period of well over eight inches. Fact is, February 26th. was the last day we received a significant amount of rainfall. Along with the rainfall deficit we are dealing with evaporation when temperatures reach well above 80 and 90 degrees. When temperatures reach 90 degrees the evaporation is accelerated at a tremendous rate. Consequently the industries that rely on water for their operation such as sand mining, nurseries and farmers have to increase their consumption withdrawal from the aquifer thus creating an even worse condition with the drawdown of the water table.
We are getting reports from some of the lake observers that Brooklyn Lake has dropped 10 to 12 inches since February. White Sands Lake has dropped ten inches.
Ladies and gentlemen this is a perfect example as to why we need to keep researching into alternative water resources. If we had Option #5 in place and in operation we could be delivering water into Brooklyn Lake instead of loosing the water we have gained. Now we have a deficit to recover and our only hope we have to look for that recovery is rainfall. One foot of Lowry Lake water could put two feet into Brooklyn.
The release wouldn’t have to be a one-time sudden release! We have three flow meters in place on Alligator Creek between Lowry Lake and Brooklyn, which have been monitoring the flow of the creek system since the flow began back in October of 2004. All we would have to do is gauge the flow release of the control structure on the Option #5 pipeline to equal that of the flow that was flowing in Alligator Creek previously.
Lowry Lake has been at water elevations of over 131 feet above sea level since the opening of Option #3 pipeline. Lowry has even seen elevations above 132 feet a.s.l. Lowry dropped to elevations of 129 feet a.s.l. during the six year drought that started back in 1998. What would one foot hurt? The weather meteorologists are predicting that we are going to have another year of Tropical Storms and Hurricanes. It is sad when we have to wish for a “hurricane” knowing good an well the devastation that will follow.
It is obvious that we need to continue to research ways to improve the situation. (Does anyone know how to do a “rain dance”?)
Scholarship Award Winner
If you recall in our March issue we announce that the Keystone Heights City Council was going to offer a scholarship of $500.00 to a high school senior graduate and LRCA was going to add an additional $250.00 to that scholarship as well, for a total of $750.00. Each council member, including the former Mayor. Lyndel Hale, gave $100.00 of their own money towards the scholarship.
The theme for the application of the scholarship was “Save our lakes by creating an idea”. Each senior had to come up with an idea of how they would propose a means of conserving our lakes.
On March 9, Keystone Heights High School held their Awards and Scholarship Night.
Choosing one winner from applications that were turned in was extremely difficult. But a decision was made and the final outcome was awarded to 2006 class senior Lauren Stobbie. Miss Stobbie designed a power point presentation that was awesome.
The title to her presentation was “Seeding the Clouds”. It is very important that we never forget that rainfall is the number one primary resource of water. So what is more perfect than creating rainfall.
Lauren plans to attend the University of Florida. She was involved in Varsity Weightlifting and Varsity Tennis. She has been involved with the American Cancer Society, Hospice of North Central Florida, the Salvation Army, and helped with the “Rescue Atlanta” mission work for the low income and the homeless.
Some quotes from Lauren’s presentation, “Cloud seeding is the best known kind of weather modification with the goal of producing rain or snow.
1. In November 1946 Dr. Bernard Vonnegut discovered that microscopic crystals of silver iodide (known as AGI) nucleate water vapor to form ice crystals. 2. Vonnegut dissolved a mixture of AGI and another iodide in acetone sprayed the solution through a nozzle to make droplets then burned the droplets.” (She also noted that approximately 30 min. after the AGI was released rain would fall from the clouds.) “3. The city of Keystone Heights should ask the residents to pay a one cent sales tax to buy enough AGI to seed our clouds to produce rain.”
Recently in the news it was reported that China is currently experimenting with this idea of seeding clouds to produce rain. It was also reported in the same news cast that Florida’s Forestry Division is giving this idea some thought as a means to help fight wildfires or reduce the threat.
Because there were other students with great ideas and essays we plan to feature some of them in following issues of the newsletter.
We were told this scholarship created quite a stir with the students as they were heard talking around the campus what their ideas were for the “Save Our Lakes” and “Create an Idea”. We would like to thank all of the seniors who participated and we wish we could have offered ALL of them a scholarship. We wish all the seniors much success and congratulations.
Did You Know?
“Back to business as usual, five years later”
Sept. 11,2001 was a very tragic event on the lives of thousands of U.S, citizens. It even affected the “good ole boys” way of life way down here in the south. Camp Blanding’s hunting and fishing was closed as of that day as were the vast lakes and hunting areas on the military base. I know this seems a bit trivial to some considering the lives that were snuffed out by the terrorists that crashed the planes into the twin towers and the Pentagon, but should we let them still affect our way of life five years later? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Even our Commander and Chief said, “lets get back to business as usual”. Well after five years it seems that there might be a little light at the end of the tunnel. It looks like hunting will resume on Camp Blanding this year. From the information I’ve received and read the south end of Camp Blanding will be “still hunting” only and the north end (north of St. Rd. 16) will have a couple of nine day “dog hunts”. All hunts will be quota only.
It has taken a lot of work from some key people in the National Guard, Florida Freshwater and Wildlife Commission and the general public to make this happen. And to those involved we say “thank you!”
The lakes in Camp Blanding are very close to being reopened also. Karen Parker of the FFWC told me that they are 99.9 % sure that Lowry Lake and Magnolia Lake will be open again for fishing only. They will probably only be open four days a week, ten hours a day, which would be great start.
No definite date has been set yet as the Florida National Guard is doing training exercises right now to make sure our soldiers are prepared to keep the terrorists from attacking us again.
I say what better way to keep the “scumbags” off of Camp Blanding than with a bunch of “good ole boys” and rednecks with guns and knives.
No wonder why I love the south.
I would like to personally thank Dennis Barnhardt for his leadership and overall total commitment to the Lake Region Council Association as President for the past six years. Without Dennis we would not have seen the results we have had. But our commitment to getting other options and new ideas for alternative water resources is far from over!
I hope the newly elected board keeps the same passion to “saving our lakes” as Dennis has. I would also like to thank Nellie Stinson for her years of hard work as secretary. Job well done Nellie!
Last I hope the new Mayor and city council of Keystone Heights has the same passion as did former Mayor Lyndel Hale and a few of the past council members. Keystone Heights is the LAKE AREA! (or is the lake area KEYSTONE HEIGHTS!)
News You Can Use
May 4 2006 - According to an article “Council Cuts Water Watch Support”, written by James Williams, editor of the Lake Region Monitor newspaper, the Keystone Heights City Council has decided not to support the Lake Watch group. Brenda Frysinger, city secretary, wrote a letter requesting that the “city council to remove her adjunct duties as secretary to the Water Watch group”. Miss Frysinger claimed the work was involving more than just taking minutes of the meetings and she was not being compensated for the many hours of additional work. The new Mayor and city council voted to grant her request. As stated in the article, “Councilman Bruce Harvin said he recalled that (the council was) going to readdress that support in six months. It’s time for that to come to an end. She has her hands full now.” It was also noted that “Other members of the council added that since there are three distinct lake revitalization groups, each with its own agenda and philosophy, council shouldn’t support one organization over another.” What’s up with that? Support one over the other? Aren’t we ALL looking out for what is best for the community? When the lakes are up and the recreation returns, the whole town of Keystone benefits from the revenue generated.
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