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Highlands Today

FISHING: Prepare For Record-Low Lake Levels

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Dave Douglass

Published: November 21, 2007

Lake levels in Highlands County have remained low, and now, as we head into the winter dry season, all lake levels are expected to drop to near record numbers. In some cases, the levels will clearly break the old marks.

Now, it's true that Florida has a history of this type of happening, however, this current drought has lasted longer and has had a larger impact due to the increased — and still growing — population, and subsequent lower water tables.

If you live on Lake Jackson and think the level is low now, prepare yourself for levels you might never have experienced.

Jackson is about three feet below its norm now, and could drop a few more feet. One positive, however, is the lakeshore improvements that have taken place along U.S. 27, which have illustrated the benefits of working with what nature hands us. Cleaning the shore areas of pollution, exotic evasive plants and dragging tree limbs to deeper water to use as fish attractors, is all needful work that must be done. One additional positive for the lake homeowner is the fact he can stand on dry land to repair his dock, or add a dock for a cheaper price.

Lake Istokpoga is at the same level today as it was last year, due to the lake level being regulated on a schedule managed by South Florida Water Management (SFWM). They use the Army Corp of Engineer (ACE) S-68 structure — or spillway — to maintain seasonal levels between 37.5 feet and 39.5 feet above sea level (ASL).

With this lake, is must be remembered that the lake level is dependent upon Lake Okeechobee's level being above 10 feet ASL (it's currently at 10.3 feet ASL) which is not enough depth to pump water to permitted agricultural users between the two lakes. This means these permitted users must ask SFWM to deviate from the normal lake level schedule for Istokpoga until Okeechobee returns to a higher level, enabling the pumps to be used again.

As in the case of the current drought, SFWM has an optional schedule plan of using more water to supply the permitted water users by releasing water to a lower level of 37' ASL. And it did this last spring, as it needed to request approval for another deviation schedule of 36.5' feet — which it did have approved — however, enough rain occurred, so they didn't need to use this approved deviation.

However, the rainy season was nowhere near the normal yearly amount, nevermind talking about the actual amount of rainfall needed to return the lakes to near normal levels. So, here we are again, faced with a choice of how best to handle this challenge and prepare ourselves for the undesirable and painful event we most likely will experience.

SFWM is waiting for the ACE to approve their deviation request at this present time. On Nov. 13, both agencies presented the facts to the county commissioners, administrator, and public. The case was presented — as it was last April — but this time, one lake-level option of 35.5 feet ASL was requested as the low-level mark instead of several options, as done previously.

It's clear that if ACE approves the SFWM deviation request to the lake level normal schedule of 37 feet ASL when Okeechobee pumps are inoperable, 35.5 feet ASL would be the unprecedented new low-level deviation schedule mark. To date, the lowest deviation schedule approved was 36 feet ASL during the drought and "draw-down" of 2000-01.

Because of evaporation, the lake level dropped to 35.88 feet ASL, or about two inches in less than a month before above-average rains restored the lake in record time to its normal levels.

Herein lies the rub in this "rolling of the dice" — we make a choice of which assumption to go with. In any case, the question is, "Rain or no rain?"

Either way you choose to align yourself, eventually the question of "When does the deviation request process reach its lowest point and is not an option anymore?" arises.

Is it when the lake reaches 34' feet ASL — the lowest point the lake can be drained because of the mile-long sand bar out front of the spillway — or is it after the ACE dredges the sand bar to access the water in the second largest deeper area of the lake?

In the end, one must ask themselves this question: "If the drought conditions continue, does the sovereign nation of the Seminole Indians right-to-water agreement of 1978 include deviation requests until there are five 3-foot separate areas, or, if not, how many does it include?"

I hate to propose another question, but at this point, what's one more back-breaker going to hurt for a lake business owner with a broken back?

Does anyone know the status of the Hydrilla problem, and what will happen during this deviation request period — if approved?

I invite you all to get involved in this process, become proactive and learn the facts. Join in the work of reaching the right solutions, using dialogue in one form or another. Getting involved in non-profit organizations is a good start in order to help achieve lake management at its finest.

"Saving Our Source" of our Florida lakes is the objective, but the mission is to work within the guidelines set by the county, state, and federal government we elected.

SOS Florida Lakes, of which I am an officer, has a plan and a mission which addresses these responsibilities, one each citizen can acknowledge in open, educated dialogue.

So, get involved today, and be a part of the solution — 50, 500, or 5,000 Highlands County citizens can't be ignored if they stand together.

Dave Douglass is a bass fishing guide and teacher, bass tournament fisherman and an officer of S.O.S.-Florida Lakes, Inc. You can reach him at 863-381-8474, e-mail davedouglass@sos-floridalakes.org or visit reds-bass-fishing-guides.com and sos-floridalakes.org.

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