Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #634FY0001 Mitigation impacts of increased Lake-Level Fluctuations
Requester:		Gene Molnar			Organization:		Lake County Water Authority
Project Title:		Mitigation impacts of increased Lake-Level Fluctuations			Date Submitted:		02/07/2001 9:48:38 AM
Sponsors:		Randy Johnson
Statewide Interest:		Water quality and natural systems improvement to a large, regional chain of Lakes.
Recipient:		St. John's River Water Management District			Contact:		Carol Senne
		PO Box 1429			Contact Phone:		(904) 329-4447
		Palatka 32178
Counties:		Lake
Service Area:		Government Entity
Project Description:
Forty years of artificially stabilized water levels in the Harris Chain of Lakes has resulteed in poor water quality and the loss of lakeshore habitats for fish and wildlife. We propose to restore more natural water level fluctuations in the lakes to help mitigate this damage. This effort will be accomplished by implementing new schedules for regulating the three water control structures in the chain of lakes. Higher water levels predicted by the porposed schedules would impede operation of some permitted stormwater projects on the Harris Chain of Lakes. Part of the requested funding, $500,000, will be used to redesign and reconstruct projects potentially affected by high water levels. Local match for this effort will be solicited. Public hearing on increasing lake-level fluctuations revealed significant concern about lost boat access from canals to the lake during low-water periods predicted by the porposed schedules. To address this concern for fluctuating water levels, the District and The Lk. County Water Authority have partnered to dredge existing canals on the Harris Chain to improve boat access during droughts. A 1999 legislature funded a feasibility assessment of canal dredging on Lake Griffin, to be completed in the summer of 2001. A 2000 legislative appropriation funded dredging of the top priority canals, to begin in the fall of 2001. Part of the requested funding, $2,400,000, will be dedicated to dredging the remaining canals of Lake Griffin.There have been In-Kind Contributions made but no amount attached to them. So a $5.00 amount has been entered to show that an In-Kind Contribution has been made.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Water quality improvements(e.g., lower phosphorus levels); acres of restored shoreline habitat; increased number of recreational fishing days
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:						$2,900,000
Identify item(s) in the Appropriations Bill to be reduced:
Specific Appropriation #:			1591G
Specific Appropriation Title:			Grants and Aids to Local Governments and Nonprofit Organizations - Fixed Capital Outlay: Statewide Restoration Projects
Amount to be reduced:			$2,900,000
Fund Source:			Trust Fund
Total cost of the project:			$7,900,000
Request has been made to fund:				Operations and Construction
Type of funding match:		Local
					Total In-Kind Amount:		$5
Was this project previously funded by the State?							Yes
	Fiscal Year:		1999		Amount:		$300,000
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?							Yes
	Amount:		$4,700,000
	Purpose for future year funding:					Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?						No
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?							Unknown
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?							Unknown
Is there a documented need for this project?							Yes
	Documentation:		Upper Ocklawaha Basin Surface water Improvement and Management plan
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?							Yes
	Hearing Body:		Lake Griffin Restoration Task Force and the Lake County Water Authority
	Meeting Date:		01/17/2001