Rain, rain, rain! Bring it on. It is a delight to see the afternoon rainfall patterns return after many years of suffering from a drought period. Unfortunately some may be wishing the rain would go away. Especially those who have seen repeated flooding conditions in their communities. We are currently in the rainy season. June, July and August are the three months we would normally see the heaviest precipitation for the year. For those of us who live in and around the Keystone Heights area we see the precipitation as a blessing and welcome the rainfall.

I have been an “Observer” for White Sands Lake for about 12 years. I have been recording rainfall and lake levels for approximately 8 years. During my observation I have witnessed White Sands Lake fluctuate with rainfall or lack of rainfall. Although this year I have not seen the lake level drop during months of below average rainfall? Since we started the “dog days of summer” with the temperatures in the 90’s, we are now seeing evaporation rate become a major factor. Wind can even play into the equation. Within a ten day period of 90 + degrees and no rain the lake level of White Sands Lake dropped 1/2 inch. I have seen in the past the lake level drop an inch in a period of a week.

Since January, White Sands Lake has rose 2 feet eleven and half inches. The water level for White Sands Lake is still about four feet below the normal stage. As long as we continue to see the normal to above normal rainfall then we should see the lakes continue to rise, providing as I said we continue to see the rainfall. Other lake watch “Observers” are reporting similar conditions with the exception of Brooklyn Lake, which just keeps on rising. Rainfall Data for White Sands Lake:

January 1.91 in. (Average =3.35 in.)

February 2.88 in. (Average =4.21 in.)

March 6.06 in. (Average =3.65 in.)

April 6.17 in. (Average =2.64 in.)

May 5.75 in. (Average =3.76 in.)

June 8.01 in. (Average =6.77 in.)

July 9.35 in. (Average =6.80 in.)

Total rainfall for the seven month period equals 40.13 in., that is 8.95 in. above average.

(Note: The monthly average rainfall was established by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) from the Gainesville Airport Weather Station. This is the closest weather station to Keystone Heights and has been used in the past by several of the U.S. Geological Survey reports.)

Inclusion I would like to say that it has been the purpose and mission of LRCA with the research we have done, to educate ourselves and then educate the community concerning the issues of the low lake levels in Keystone Heights. There is an old saying, that states “knowledge is power”.

The Lake Region Council Association, “Save Our Lakes” yard sale was a huge success. Thanks to all of the local residents who stopped by to support our common goal. We met many concerned and appreciative friends of LRCA. We raised a total of $302. 50. We had some faithful members who donated their rummage to the yard sale, which was greatly appreciated. Hopefully we will double this the next time we have a fund raiser. Thanks to Mayor Hale for working the info table at the Fourth of July Parade. Mayor Hale has been a great asset to LRCA. Sincerely, Tom Jones

Now with the completion of the Option #7 pipeline, “Did you know” that we have now completed three options to improve the water flow to Alligator Creek? That’s right, three options have been completed. Option #1, #3 and #7. Option #3 was the pipeline which was placed between the Southwest Quadrant Lake and Blue Pond. You may have forgotten about Option #1, which was the dredging out of the creek at the breech in the old mining levee and rim ditch system, where the headwaters of Alligator Creek flows through. This was completed back in May of 2002 by the Camp Blanding Florida Army Reserve National Guard and the forestry. This work was beneficial to Guard as it gave the soldiers some “stick time” on the heavy equipment. This option was the first of the options to be completed and was done at no expense to the taxpayers.

According to an email message from Keystone Heights Mayor Hale, on July 15 Mayor Hale along with Plant Manager Ken Klein of E.I. Dupont, Environmental Manager David Wright of E.I. DuPont, reporter James Williams of the Lake Region Monitor and reporter Aida Mallard of the Gainesville Sun made a tour of the recently completed 800 ft. Option #7 pipeline at the Trail Ridge mining site of E.I. DuPont in Camp Blanding. This option was to redirect recycled water, which had been pumped by DuPont from the Floridan Aquifer into a pipeline under Treat Road and released into the rim ditch of the old levee system that was built by Dupont back in the 1960’s. This water would either run down the mile and a half rim ditch to the Southwest Quadrant Lake or permeate into the ground and hopefully replenish the water table in the old mined area or what we refer to as the “bathtub” reservoir. This was an option that was proposed by L.R.C.A. several years ago but was declined by DuPont due to the probability of the cost thought of being in the million of dollars to construct. The option was again brought up by Mayor Hale and LRCA President Barnhardt to Dupont and with the help of Jon Samborski of DuPont was revitalized. The cost of the pipeline was about $5,000 in materials, which most of the pipe was material that was lying around on DuPont’s mining site. This does not include the estimated cost of the man hours ($30,000) to install the pipeline, which took a crew of six to seven men approximately six weeks to install. A flow meter was also installed on the pipe and since the opening of the pipe back in June, for a period of about a month has produced 36 million gallons of water into the rim ditch system.

Just a word of praise, E.I. Dupont has bent over backwards since the inception of the Keystone Heights Stakeholders group, which was formed back in 2002 (not to be confused with the Lake Advisory Council which was formed back in the 1990’s). DuPont has faithfully attended the meetings and have worked diligently with our group as we brainstormed with different ideas as to how we could restore and enhance the flow of Alligator Creek into Brooklyn Lake. E.I. Dupont has proven to be good neighbors to our community and deserve a round of applause for their recent efforts.