Presidents Report by Dennis Barnhardt

By popular vote our next goal is to set site on the Option #5 pipeline. Both the membership and LRCA board have voiced their opinion that we should proceed with the process towards Option #5. According to our survey which we published in the December issue, along with the cleaning out of Alligator Creek, the Option #5 pipeline were the two most popular options with the membership. Therefore LRCA will take on the task of investigating the probability of installing the pipeline at Lowry Lake. Most of our members are familiar with term, the Option #5 pipeline, but for those of you who are in question as to what the Option #5 pipeline is, allow me to explain.

A couple of years ago a hydrologic consultant was hired by the water management district for the fee of $50,000 to investigate our concerns that the mining on top of Trail Ridge may have altered the natural drainage, which comes down Alligator Creek (south). (Please do not confuse this creek with the Alligator Creek, which runs through Starke as there are issues with that creek which do not involve Alligator Creek (south). They are two separate creek systems.)

Peter Schrueder Inc. was the firm that did the study. The study was titled “Investigation and Conceptual Design of Options for the Lake Brooklyn Watershed, Clay County, Florida”. In that study Mr. Schrueder and Mr. Dumeyer designed some “options” to enhance the flow of Alligator Creek (south). Six options to be exact.

Option #1 - the cleaning out of the southern section of the rim ditch, which lies inside of the levee system built by Dupont, was completed by the Florida National Guard.

Option #3 - the 2,600 ft. pipeline between the South Quadrant Lake and Blue Pond was completed by the Clay County Engineering and Public Works Dept.

Option #5 - is a proposed pipeline of approximately 800 feet to be installed at the southern end of Lowry Lake, which would intersect with Alligator Creek between Lowry Lake and Magnolia Lake. The object of the pipeline was to deliver large volumes of water into Alligator Creek at pre-selected times. A control structure would also be installed on the pipeline in order to control the volume of water during operation when it is opened and closed.

The pipeline would be installed at a level when opened it could lower the water level of Lowry Lake from one to three feet. The theory behind the operation of such a pipeline would be, Lowry Lake is approximately twice the size of Brooklyn Lake therefore if you lowered Lowry by one foot you could possibly deliver two feet to Brooklyn or if you lowered Lowry by three feet you could deliver six feet to Brooklyn. Mind you this all in theory.. Naturally Magnolia Lake would have to be at a maximum level of outfall where as the water that flowed into Magnolia would also flow out of Magnolia.

The issue that the water management district has with Option #5 pipeline is the impact the draw-down the pipeline would have on Lowry Lake and impact it would have on the wetlands around Lowry. The water management staff said we would have to have a study done to provide research showing the impact of lowering the lake and the conditions caused by the lowering on the wetlands.
Our argument to that is the droughts that have occurred in the past have posed more of an impact that what we proposed would be done by lowering the lake at scheduled intervals. An example is during the last six year drought we saw Lowry Lake water level drop over three feet. Lowry Lake has been at levels of 132 feet plus and during the drought we witnessed levels of 128 feet or less. So our question is what happened to the wetlands during the drought?

Now that Option #1 has been completed and Option #7 and Option #3 pipeline are in operation we are seeing Lowry Lake reach levels of 131 to 132 feet. There again the question is what has been the impact on the wetlands?

Vice Presidents Report by Tom Jones (No report at this time)

Treasurers Report by Duane Gill (No report at this time)

Did You Know

Speaking of the Brooklyn Lake Boat Ramp, did you know that an agreement had been made between the Clay County Board of Commissions and the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to maintain the boat ramp? According to the “Project Agreement 1990/91 - 73”, which was dated February 26, 1991, the county and the wildlife commission have made an agreement to the maintenance and repairs of the boat ramp and park. Both parties agreed that boating access for the public was appropriate. It appears that the property was owned by the county and the wildlife commission had the funds. So the two parties agreed as to who would maintain the park and boat ramp and who would make repairs. In the agreement the county is referred to as the “Cooperator” and the wildlife commission is referred to as the “Commission”. According to the agreement:

The “Duties of the Commission” are, “1. Repair and maintain an existing one-lane boat ramp. 2. Perform all structural maintenance, improvements or repairs to the project facilities. 3. Obtain appropriate permits prior to construction or repair work performed.

The “Duties of the Cooperator “ are, 1. Agrees to dedicate the real property for public use “for the duration of the terms of this agreement, as a recreation area available to the general public for recreation and boating purposes only. 2. “Agrees to provide a means of ingress and egress to the Project Site capable of accommodating standard two wheel drive vehicles, and to provide adequate parking facilities”, “consisting of not less than 20 spaces, each capable of accommodating a standard vehicle and boat trailer.” “The Cooperator agrees to obtain all required local, state and federal permits and obtain written design approval from the Commission prior to doing any repair work or construction the Cooperator wishes to undertake at the project site using Cooperator money and manpower resources.” 3. - “Agrees to operate” “and maintain the Project Site and all ancillary facilities thereon for the duration of the term of this agreement.” “The Cooperator shall keep the Project Site and facilities open for public use, maintained in accordance with all applicable health and safety standards and kept in good repair to prevent undue deterioration and provide for safe public use.” 4. - “Agrees to notify the Commission in writing when repairs or maintenance to be conducted by the Commission…” (There were four other duties of the Cooperator, which covered operation hours, fees, etc.) According to page 7 paragraph 5, “Effective date/ term of Agreement - This agreement is effective upon execution and shall remain in effect for a period of 20 years from the date hereof, or for a period of 20 years from the completion of any reconstruction or major repair, or significant structural alteration or addition to the Project Facilities.” Page 8 paragraph 9, “Commitment of Funds - “The State of Florida’s performance and obligation to pay under this contract is contingent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature. The Cooperator understands that the Commission commits with this contract only the amount of funds required for the remainder of the current fiscal year, but that the commission intends to provide funds over the life of the contract if funds are annually appropriated.”

This Agreement No. 29 was signed by Colonel Robert Brantly, Executive Director of Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and Dennis Frushbone, Chairman of the Clay County Commissioners on February 26, 1991.

News You Can Use

The City of Keystone Heights City Council and Mayor have proposed to set aside funds of $500.00 for a scholarship to be presented to a graduating senior at the Keystone Heights High School. The members of LRCA has also decided to add another $250.00 to that scholarship. The only catch to receiving the scholarship is the seniors will have to “create an idea” in order to win the scholarship. They have to come up with an idea of what they believe would help restore or sustain the water level of our lakes. LRCA thought this could prove to be a neat idea, whereby maybe we would see some brilliant student come up with an idea that was never thought of. It will be interesting to see what kind of ideas the students come up with. Good luck seniors!