Florida State Representative Joe Pickens has agreed to assist LRCA with procuring funds for the Hydrologic Study
Presidents Report by Lyndel Hale
(No report at this time)
Update on the Opening of Magnolia Lake by Joey Tyson
Magnolia Lake was officially opened July 28. We thought you would be interested in knowing the turn-out for the first couple of week-ends. This information was provided to Owners Joey and Patty Tyson of the Keystone Heights Bald Eagle Tackle Shop from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission who are stationed at the guard-gate at the entrance into the wildlife area for Magnolia Lake and Lowry Lake.
Total Total Largemouth Bass Largemouth Bass Panfish Kept
Vehicles Anglers Caught Kept
July 28 — 337 58 (unknown)
July 29 — 151 298 462 49 273
August 4 — 403 58 572
August 5 — 158 327 313 42 920
Percentage breakdown of the anglers by the counties they reside:
July 28 –July 29
Clay Bradford Duval Baker Alachua Union Columbia Putnam Nassua St. Johns
48.3 23.7 6.8 2.5 3.4 5.1 1.7 2.5 1.7 1.7
Aug. 4 –Aug. 5
Clay Bradford Duval Baker Alachua Union Columbia Putnam Nassua St. Johns
45.7 16 12.6 6.9 5.4 4.6 2 1.1 1.1 0.9
All I can say is that Keystone Heights becomes alive when the lakes are up. My business is probably up 50% on Thursday, Friday and Saturday because of Magnolia and Lowry Lakes being fished, and they are 2 1/2 miles from Keystone Heights Who is to say what would happen if all the lakes could be fished.
Did You Know?
You might recall this glorious day in Keystone Heights if you were around back then, August 3,1994. After going through some dry spells and seeing the lake levels decline, it were as if a dam had burst and water gushed into Brooklyn Lake. It was the beginning of work accomplished from a long drawn out plan designed to increase the groundwater flow of Alligator Creek (south). A plan referred to as the Etonia Environmental Restoration Plan, Work Phases I, II and III.
“The good news is: water flows in Keystone Heights”
by Aida Mallard, Clay Today newspaper
“The water was coming so fast it created rapids, and the perfect playground for kids with inner tubes, boogie boards, and even canoes.” “The work that has been accomplished to bring water down from the upper chain of lakes and into Alligator Creek, as well as, plenty of rainfall, are the reason for the water boom. Walter Rountree, director of the Clay County Engineering Department, said major work has been done to significantly improve water flow to Alligator Creek from Magnolia Lake. Alligator Creek feeds Brooklyn Lake, and from there, down the chain of lakes in the Upper Etonia Creek Basin. At the top of the chain are Lowry Lake, Blue Pond and Magnolia Lake.
Rountree said that a pipe at Treat Road in Alligator Creek was lowered by three feet, and the creek was excavated for 100 ft south of the pipe, and 300 ft. north of the pipe in Alligator Creek. Also, water from a DuPont sand mine, which previously had been diverted into Bradford County, was allowed to flow into Alligator Creek and down to Brooklyn Lake.
Rountree said water had been released gradually from Magnolia Lake into Alligator Creek. Magnolia Lake, Lowry, and Blue Pond were about two feet above normal. (Remember the creek had been dammed up back in April in order to dry the creek bed to allow the workers to get in the creek to excavate.) This extra water is now making its way down the lake chain. The work to restore the lakes has been accomplished through the cooperation of the Lake Keystone Advisory Council, Clay County, Camp Blanding and DuPont. Rodney Bamford and the Brooklyn Lake Civic Association have been instrumental in bringing the attention of the county and state agencies to the low water levels that have plagued the area. All these people have worked hard and long and finally they are seeing the fruits of their labors.”
(Source: Article by Aida Mallard, Clay Today newspaper, August 3, 1994)
“Most of Phase I work was performed by late August 1994,
The system has been delivering water onto Lake Brooklyn at the average rate of about 10 to 13 million gallons daily.” “Now when it rains more water will flow down “East Alligator Creek” which speeds up the recovery of Lake Brooklyn and other lakes.” (Source: Etonia Environmental Restoration Plan newsletter, Jan. 4,1995)
Clay County Commissioner James Jett spearheaded the restoration plan, along with Rodney Bamford and Mr. Phillip Baumgardner, President of the Lake Brooklyn Civic Association. Phases II and III were completed at later dates.
News You Can Use
On August 8 2006 Florida State Representative Joe Pickens and his aide, Jack Hall, has agreed to work with the City of Keystone Heights and LRCA in appropriating funding wither it be from St. Johns River Water Management District, DEP, State or regional governments. SJRWMD is requesting for the study to be done. They want it done to validate the lowering of Lowry Lake’s water level, and the impact it would have on the wetland issues around Lowry Lake. SJRWMD believes this draw-down will have an adverse impact to the wetlands. LRCA believes and has believed the impact on the wetlands will be minimal as compared to the impact the past and previous droughts have had on the area. Also Keystone Heights Mayor Mary Lou has been in conference, working with Representative Pickens on possibly appropriating funding through the city C.B.R. Grant along with the City Council. Vice Mayor Bruce Harvin has suggested we set up a summit therefore the city council can work with the citizens, which will give us intelligent avenues to pursue, while brainstorming ideas. This is what it takes— team work.
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