Osceola County Lakes Management Plan
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2015 Osceola County Lakes Management Plan ADOPTED Osceola County BoCC September 14, 2015 Osceola County Lakes Management Plan Prepared by: Community Development Department Community Resources Office September 2015 The Mission of Osceola County’s Lakes Management Program is to protect, enhance, conserve, restore, and manage the County’s aquatic resources. We accomplish this through education, coordination with other agencies, and maintenance and management of lake systems. Activities include hydrologic management, habitat preservation and enhancement, aquatic plant management, water quality improvement, and provision of recreational opportunities. Our goal is to improve, enhance and sustain lake ecosystem health, while avoiding impacts to downstream systems, for the benefit of the fish and wildlife resources and the residents of, and visitors to, Osceola County. Cover photo: Lake Gentry CONTENTS Executive Summary ................................................................................................... 1 Section 1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 7 Section 2 Lake Management Activities .................................................................... 11 Section 3 Water Quality .......................................................................................... 20 Section 4 Lake Management Plans .......................................................................... 30 Lake Tohopekaliga ..................................................................................... 31 East Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Runnymede, and Lake Ajay ........................ 38 Cypress Lake............................................................................................... 42 Lake Hatchineha......................................................................................... 45 Lake Kissimmee .......................................................................................... 46 Alligator Chain of Lakes and Lake Gentry .................................................. 49 Lake Marian and Lake Jackson ................................................................... 53 Lakes Joel, Myrtle, and Preston ................................................................. 56 Section 5 Recommendations ................................................................................... 57 Appendices .............................................................................................................. 64 Appendix A: References ............................................................................. 64 Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................ 66 Appendix C: Definitions ............................................................................. 67 Appendix D: Water and Navigation Control Districts ................................ 69 Appendix E: Regulated Lake Levels ............................................................ 70 TABLES Table 1 Water Quality, Osceola County Lakes, 1999 to 2009 ................................................... 3 Table 2 Lake Toho NRP Projects Implemented by Osceola County ........................................ 16 Table 3 Lake Toho NRP Projects implemented by Kissimmee and St. Cloud .......................... 17 Table 4 Lake Classifications and Uses...................................................................................... 21 Table 5 Summary of Consecutive Three-Year Average Values for Chlorophyll-a ................... 23 Table 6 Difference Between NNC and TMDL Reductions for Phosphorus .............................. 23 Table 7 Difference Between NNC and TMDL Reductions for Nitrogen ................................... 23 Table 8 Nutrient Reductions Required for Lake Toho Using NNC ........................................... 33 Table 9 Nutrient Reductions Required for East Lake Toho Using NNC ................................... 39 Table 10 Difference between NNC and TMDL Reductions for Phosphorus and Nitrogen, Cypress Lake ............................................................................................... 43 Table 11 Difference between NNC and TMDL Reductions for Phosphorus and Nitrogen, Lake Kissimmee .......................................................................................... 47 Table 12 Alligator Chain of Lakes ............................................................................................. 49 Table 13 Difference between NNC and TMDL Reductions for Phosphorus and Nitrogen, Lake Marian ................................................................................................ 54 Table 14 Difference between NNC and TMDL Reductions for Phosphorus and Nitrogen, Lake Jackson ............................................................................................... 54 FIGURES Figure 1 Direction of Flow Through Primary Flood Control System ........................................... 9 Figure 2 Boat Ramps Maintained by Osceola County Parks..................................................... 13 Figure 3 Comparison of Historic and Current Photos of Cypress Lake ..................................... 24 Figure 4 2013/2014 Hydrilla Treatment Plan for Lake Tohopekaliga ....................................... 34 Figure 5 Granada Boat Ramp Improvements ........................................................................... 35 Figure 6 Southport Boat Ramp Improvements ........................................................................ 36 Figure 7 Partin Triangle Boat Ramp Improvements ................................................................. 36 Figure 8 Whaley’s Boat Ramp Improvements .......................................................................... 37 Figure 9 Pondweed Treatment Area on East Lake Tohopekaliga, October 2013..................... 40 Figure 10 Chisholm Park Boat Ramp Improvements .................................................................. 41 Figure 11 2013/2014 Hydrilla Treatment Plan for Cypress Lake ................................................ 43 Figure 12 Cypress Lake Boat Ramp Improvements .................................................................... 44 Figure 13 2013/2014 Hydrilla Treatment Plan for Lake Hatchineha .......................................... 45 Figure 14 2013/2014 Hydrilla Treatment Plan for Lake Kissimmee ........................................... 47 Figure 15 Trout Lake Boat Ramp Improvements ........................................................................ 51 Figure 16 C-Gate Boat Ramp Improvements .............................................................................. 51 Figure 17 Smith’s Landing Boat Ramp Improvements on Lake Gentry ...................................... 52 Figure 18 Lake Marian Boat Ramp Improvements ..................................................................... 55 Executive Summary Alligator Lake, as seen from the canal coming out of Lake Lizzie With its abundant natural Recreational opportunities resources and location in the Osceola’s lake system include boating, water skiing, world’s premier tourist is one of our greatest jet skiing, boat racing, destination, Osceola County is sightseeing, kayaking, bird- natural assets. uniquely positioned to provide watching, and ecotourism. And a vast array of water-related fishing. Osceola is world recreational activities. The County has more renowned for its bass tournaments, which, than 50 named lakes, which provide habitat along with duck hunting, airboat rides, and for a variety of wildlife, as well as recreational wildlife viewing, contribute over $7 million opportunities and scenic beauty. Wildlife annually to the Osceola County economy. calling our lakes home includes largemouth Our lakes have environmental importance, bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, they improve our quality of life, and they are sandhill cranes, Everglade snail kites, limpkins vital to our economy. Osceola County is and alligators, to name a few. As for bald committed to protecting our lakes for eagles, Florida has the highest nesting generations to come. population in the lower 48 states, and Osceola County has the highest nesting population in This Lakes Management Plan provides a guide Florida, making us a prime location for viewing to lake management activities performed by these majestic birds. Osceola County, in cooperation with state agencies and other partners. The plan includes 1 Executive Summary a brief history of alterations to the hydrologic and funding sources. Public involvement was connections between lakes that have sought throughout the process to gain impacted how the lakes function for flood meaningful participation in lake management control, and the subsequent effects these activities. alterations have had on water quality and habitat management. It describes resources, Water Quality both internal and external, available to the According to Florida Department of County for lake-related programs and Environmental Protection (FDEP) activities. Some of these resources are measurements, there are 47 impairments agencies with state or federal mandates for listed for Osceola County water bodies, 18 for lake management. Others are less formal, mercury and the rest for low dissolved oxygen, including non-profits, environmental groups, high fecal coliform levels, and nutrient and civic-minded residents concerned with the impairments. Lakes Kissimmee, Cypress, health of the County’s lakes. A discussion of Marian, and Jackson are included