Little Lake Jackson And Lake Jackson

I read with interest the article by James J. Dean regarding the channel between Little Lake Jackson and Lake Jackson. Also, the article about the canal cleanup at Lake Istokpoga. Both of our local newspapers should interview residents of Erin Park, who live on the three canals to Little Lake Jackson, and also take pictures of the three canals, as two of them are literally "seas of grass." We have little water in the middle canal and in the past few weeks, a lot of the fish have died and we've gotten flocks of buzzards on the bank feeding on the dead fish.

We haven't had our boats or pontoons out on either lake for almost two years. A lot of the boats and pontoons are sitting high and dry. It would cost each owner around $600 to have a crane come in and remove them. We have contacted local county officials several times, but all we get are words! Something needs to be done.

The residents of Erin Park have contributed twice to clean out the mouth of the canals to Little Lake Jackson, but were restricted by depth and width requirements, so it filled back in weeks later. If there are monies to clean out the canals to Lake Istokpoga, there should be funds to clean out under the bridge between Little Lake Jackson and Lake Jackson, or at the very least, to open the mouth of the canals to Little Lake Jackson. Why can't James J. Dean get straight answers from the county or state agencies? Perhaps we should take this matter to a higher level to get some action!

Jake and Ann Roehm
Sebring