Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #981FY0001 Modeling of Long -Term Environmental Impacts Resulting from Water Withdrawls
Requester:		Gene Molnar, Chairman			Organization:		Lake County Water Authority
Project Title:		Modeling of Long -Term Environmental Impacts Resulting from Water Withdrawls			Date Submitted:		2/13/01 12:04:50 PM
Sponsors:		Anna Cowin
Statewide Interest:		Water Quality and natural system improvement to a highly degraded chain of lakes system.
Recipient:		Lake County Water Authority			Contact:		Michael J. Perry, Executive Director
		107 North Lake Ave.			Contact Phone:		(352) 343-3777
		Tavares 32178-1429
Counties:		Lake
Service Area:		Government Entity
Project Description:
South Lake County's Lakes and Aquifier are experiencing record lows. In general, lake elevations are over two and a half feet below the modeled 100- year drought elevations. This would indicate that the water levels have been depleted far beyond even a 200-year drought. As a result, major portions of the Palatlakaha River are completely dry and the Clermont Chain has been reduced to shallow isolated lakes. Many other lakes in the area are over 6 to 8 feet below the normal water elevations. Public access and recreation has essentially been eliminated and there is a tremendous potential impact to the natural aquatic systems. Substantial public interest has been expressed regarding the relative impact resulting from surface and ground water withdrawls. The existing water supply planning model will only predict future impacts from additional water withdrawls. However, the existing model is not capable of determining the impacts that have already occured. The Lake County Water Authority ,in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey, will develop a model for South Lake County that is calibrated to recent surface water elevations and Florida aquifer pressures. The model will then be adjusted to remove existing groundwater withdrawls to our aqatic resources. Based on these findings, local, regional, and state governmental agencies would be able to mitigate for any impacts and prevent further ecological damage.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Improved water quality; acres of native emergent wetland vegetation;acres of restored shoreline habitat.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:						$125,000
Total cost of the project:			$250,000
Request has been made to fund:				Operations
Type of funding match:		Local
	Total Cash Amount:		$125,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?							No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?							No
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?							No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?							No
Is there a documented need for this project?							Yes
	Documentation:		SJRWMD 2010 Water Supply 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 County Water Authority
	Meeting Date:		1/23/01