Friends of Lake Jesup
February 15, 2001
East Branch (Oviedo) Public Library
DRAFT MINUTES

Chairman Robert King called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.

Chairman King gave a report on correspondence from the American Heritage River Initiative in which projects for Lake Jesup were discussed.

Chairman King gave a report on LakeWatch. He said there is now a second volunteer sampling the lake, at the mouth of the lake. He said the LakeWatch director might soon give a presentation on the program to the group.

Regina Lovings, SJRWMD, introduced Glenn Forest of URS Greiner, who gave a report on the State Road 46 Floodplain Reconnection/Wildlife Crossing design.

Chairman King suggested the group address letter of thanks to the city of Sanford and the property owner for their cooperation with the project. He suggested also a letter of thanks to Henry Dean, SJRWMD, for funding the project.

Dean Dobberfuhl, SJRWMD, gave a report on the final Hydrodynamic Model results. He explained there had been some changes made in the way the boundary cells were modeled, which made a difference in the volume of water leaving the lake. He said Gary Zarillo blocked cells because water was modeled backflowing into the tributaries.

Chairman King said he would like a committee from the FLJ to go to Palatka to actually see the model run by one of the District scientists, so the group could understand better how the results were determined.

Chairman King mentioned the February 24 meeting at which the District would present the model to the USACE. He said Catherine Johnson would represent the group at the meeting.

Mr. Dobberfuhl present the results of the revised Environmental Assessment, which was redone after the boundary conditions where changed on the Hydrodynamic model. He said Mr. Zarillo recommends that the model be rewritten and expanded to deal with the boundary conditions.

Mr. Dobberfuhl said the District is sticking with its original recommendation of option 4 - Channel A & B open. He said that option would offer the least amount of digging, no loss of wetlands associated with Channel C and would cost the least.

Tom McCord, Black hammock Association, asked why Channel C wouldn't be a viable option if historical data supported its existence.

Mr. Dobberfuhl said option 4 was based on the model.

Mr. McCord said the wetlands previously mentioned were manmade.

Mr. Dobberfuhl said they had a tangible effect with regard to removing sediment. He said the model showed no significant mixing with channel C open.

Ms. Loving reminded the group that the District had recommended the installation of box culverts along the causeway to reconnect the river with the lake.

Bill Daniel said the wetlands on the west side of the causeway were non-existent until the causeway was built.

Mr. McCord asked, if the evidence were presented that supported the opening of channel C, would the District consider that option.

Mr. Dobberfuhl said if it could be permitted. He said he didn't see the need, based on the model results.

Mr. McCord said too much emphasis was being placed on a flawed model.

Chairman King asked everyone to look over the Environmental Assessment and to be ready to discuss it in depth at the March meeting.

Chairman King said the one thing he and everyone else is wary of is that the model will become a definitive piece of work an all involved will base their decisions on it.

Mr. Dobberfuhl distributed copies of the Water & Nutrient Budget.

Ms. Loving told the group the Middle Basin was being considered for SWIM plan funding through Florida Forever. She said she would bring a copy of the SWIM act to the next meeting so the group would know what that might entail.

Kim Ornberg, Seminole County Stormwater Division, asked again for the information on the catch sample request made by Tom McCord at the January meeting. She said Ed Torres had been unable to do it due to his schedule.

Chairman King gave an update on the berm funding problem discussed at the January meeting.

Chairman King asked for approval of the minutes. Lothian Ager, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission corrected the date of the FFWC board meeting. The minute Showed March but the correct month is May.

The group discussed the correspondence attached to the minutes. Chairman King said he had not heard back from Rep. David Mealor.

Cecilia Height, Sierra Club, reported that she had spoken to him and he had said there would not be an opportunity to hold another legislative delegation meeting. She said she did get the opportunity to talk about Lake Jesup at the Orange County legislative delegation meeting in January.

Chairman King said he had spoken to Rep. Tom Feeney regarding the FFWC proposal and he was in favor of putting money into the budget this year.

Mr. Daniel asked everyone to write his or her US Congressman with regard to removing the AHRI status from the St. Johns River.

Mr. King gave the group a report on his meeting with Mike Snyder of District5 FDOT. He said FDOT would present bridge scenarios for discussion at the March meeting.

Chairman King gave a report on the Florida Association of Counties report on sovereignty-submerged lands. The report was endorsed by Seminole County and was presented to the Seminole County Legislative Delegation

Chairman King asked for volunteers to read over the Water & Nutrient Budget report so the group could discuss it at the March meeting. Ms. Height and Steve Rich, Protect Our Waters, took copies to read over.

Chairman King also asked for a committee to meet with Rep. Mealor, if the opportunity presents itself. Ms. Height said she would contact his office and try to set up a meeting.

Chairman King asked the group to read over the Model and the Environmental Assessment. He said a committee would be formed to go to Palatka to view the modeling process.

The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.