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Highlands Today

The Forgotten Lake

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By Jim Dean

Published: September 17, 2007

What do we have to do to get some action on Little Lake Jackson? We have constructed an alum plant for $300,000 to clear up Little Lake Jackson. We will spend a monthly maintenance fee in the thousands of dollars, and pay the county $45 per 1,000 pounds of waste dumped, even though they are 50-50 partners in the project, and it only works when it rains.

Wonder why we are concerned when our lakes manager tells me that Little Lake Jackson is merely a pond. I thought a body of water with lake in its name is usually a lake. Now we are going to spend $72,000 to dig up some of the weeds on Lake Jackson, along U.S 27, and plant some different weeds. All this money being spent for improvement is fine with me. However, I feel as though I have been begging for years for some action to be taken under the bridge between Little Lake Jackson and Lake Jackson.

I have met nothing but stone walls. Everyone passes the buck. No one is responsible, or wants to take responsibility. It's not in their budgets. I am told that the passageway between these lakes used to be wider, and deeper, but since the new bridge was built it is narrower and definitely more shallow. During normal times the water is too shallow. I have to get out and push my boat through, still getting stuck. Right now it is nothing but sand. Not flat sand, but rather looks like a hilly sand dune under the bridge (at least make it even.)

Since this passage has been dry, the weeds have begun to grow there. I looked yesterday and the weeds are 3 to 4 feet tall. Even if we get water some day the weeds and sand hills will definitely prevent us from passing through. We pay lake taxes and are held captive in one lake, while watching pet projects being done, but can't get the simplest things done. I have been told it would disturb the environment of the lake to fix the problem. Does anyone believe that? Then why did they kill off the bird habitats on both lakes; didn't that affect the environment? The same problem exists in the Little Lake Jackson canals. No one can get in or out. The State of Florida, Highlands County and the City of Sebring ought to be ashamed to let this go on any longer. Such a simple project, especially while it is dry, being ignored by politics. What a disgrace.

Jim Dean

Sebring

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