Friends of Lake Jesup

Chairman Robert King called the meeting to order.

Chairman King gave a brief overview of tow meetings upcoming. He said he would be attending a meeting on March 22 with the SJRWMD and Seminole County about a bout a stormwater project on the Cameron Ranch Property, and then on March 25 with the group that would be master planning the management of the Futch property. He said a lot of these meetings had to do with agencies working together on the restoration of Lake Jesup and that he hoped Carla Palmer, of the WMD, would soon finish the process of drafting a document of understanding between the agencies as to each agency's responsibility in the restoration project.

The group approved the February meeting minutes as presented.

Because there were several visitors at the meeting, Chairman King had each member introduce him or herself.

Pete Milam, USACOE presented the group with the draft Preliminary Restoration Plan. The then held a point-by-point review of the Plan, making comments, suggestions and correction to the text.

After the group finished the review, a consensus was reached and Mr. Milan was authorized to submit the report to the USACOE. Mr. Milam said he would provide the FLJ with a copy of the finished document.

Chairman King then asked for presentation and discussion on ideas for the use of the $100,000 remaining from the berm project.

Before the discussion of the list of ideas began, Bill Daniel suggested a phragmite removal project near the mouth of the lake might be the most beneficial and most appropriate use of the remaining funds.

Ed Hayes, FFWCC, confirmed that the phragmite growing near the mouth of the lake was causing a change in the way the water flowed into the lake. He said he would have to check into the availability of the equipment and find out whether the conditions were right. He said the cost would be around $170 per hour, but he would have to find out how many acres could be done in an hour.

The group then discussed the list, and reached a consensus the phragmite removal made the most sense. Bill Daniel made the motion, which Cecilia Height seconded, noting that she did not approved of the use of herbicide in conjunction with the removal of the phragmites.

Chairman King then asked Mr. Daniel for a report on the sovereignty submerged lands delineation project he was working on. Mr. Daniel gave an update, saying that he had met again with representative from the Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of State Lands and had reached an impasse in determining an ordinary high water line for Lake Jesup and the Middle St. Johns Basin. Chairman King asked Mr. Daniel to continue with the project.

Chuck Collins, FDEP, gave a report on water quality data collection and public education projects discussed at an agency meeting held earlier that day. He said a DEP co-worker knew about a booklet on low impact projects and was going to get a copy for Mr. Collins to share with the group. Ms. Height said she wished the group could work on a grant for public education. Mr. Collins also talked about nitrogen fixation caused by air pollution, with possible sources being the airport and the concentration of emissions near the Toll Road 417 bridge.

Chairman King said he had received an email newsletter from Ed Moyers, FFWCC, with an update on the Bass Conservation Center. He said he would forward the email to all members.

The meeting was adjourned.