A small project helping Hampton Terrace's Lake Roberta regain it's days-gone-by luster or at least control the hydrilla. Peek around to hear about our ducks, bunnies, birds, frogs, hawks, people and oh yeah, our weeds.
Friday, March 31, 2006
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
The hood learned from City Parks Department that someone has taken the ordinance signs requesting that people pick up after their pets. They are going to replace them and I told them that we would keep an eye out for anyone seen tampering with them. You can call TPD non-emergency 231-6130. The police have assured me that anyone caught will be arrested. One can only wonder where they pawned our signs.
Lake Roberta Cleanup Options Offered Published on January 12, 2006, Article 18 of 41 found. TAMPA - For landscape design - Myron Griffin, a plan to de-muck Lake Roberta is a longtime dream. He has lived near the Seminole Heights lake since 1985 and has watched as debris and vegetation choked the life from it. He wants to see the lake restored and a pocket park created from dredged sediment. He proposes a boardwalk, seating, a gazebo, decorative lighting, and trash and dog waste receptacles. His plan met a lukewarm response during a workshop held by the Save Lake Roberta (Tampa Tribune, The (FL), 209 words.)
$828,500 Earmarked For Lakes Roberta, Kipling, EdnaPublished on December 29, 2005, Article 21 of 41 found, By KATHY STEELE, ksteele TAMPA - The city and state will spend more than $800,000 to clean up three neighborhood lakes. Work is scheduled to begin in October 2007, with dredging likely at Lake Roberta in Seminole Heights and Lake Kipling in Sunset Park, said Steve Seachrist, Design Development Manager for the City's Stormwater Department. The goal is to improve water quality at the lakes, which also include Lake Edna in Wellswood. Seachrist said.
OooOOoOoooo - a name of somebody official who knows a lake might exist. Or at least a hole with water exisits.
OK, the permit process isn't so bad after all when I was told: According to IFAS, the new GFC is the Wildlife Commission and they still have a permit for grass carp. Now it's down to one page. Used to be a big package with maps and sketches, etc. They probably still have a list of authorized suppliers. The grate had to be smaller than the fish. We once got away with using chain link with the big ones though that was technically too big (means that they got away with using the wrong grate).
My next mission Find a permit Get a grate Get a chair and I'm goin fishin
Well since my dialing finger and ear have recovered the next round begins. I called Tampa Public Works who sent me to Stormwater who sent me to an engineer. I was poking around about their opinion on a grate being installed since I'd reading about Asian mutant carp. Big honking carp that think hydrilla is filet minion of the sea. Kept hunting around seeking some info on does the lake that doesn't existmwondering can anybody help with hydrilla and can we get any help slowing the lilies? The lake does overflow directly into the Hillsborough River and after all, we don't want the manatees getting imported hydrilla. They have their own to contend with. Next stop is Mosquito and Aquatic Weed Control.
OoOOoOOoO Parks and Recreation came and cut the exposed plants. Very nice job. Have I mentioned the drought? One inch of rain or less in about 45 days now. The Lake might become a mud bath. Forget the fish, soon we can use a riding mower.
Today, I learned about a new type of storm drain. It's known as a storm sceptre downstream defender. We actually got a kind of demo and explanation from the factory representative Fitts. Looks like a manhole from the top with a underground tank hiding below. It collects debris and should be cleaned out periodically. See it here.
Parks and Recreation came and mowed the edge of the non-lake. They had told me they would check it out and kept there word. They did a really nice job.
I am told Mosquito and Aquatic Weed Control don't control the invasive classified weed hydrilla. I guess since that's a state funded program locals can ignore it. Lilies are possibly a nuisance, but not invasive, so it's not our bag baby. Hey you know Lowry Park likes hydrilla or you could try EPC (%^&#$%$%^F_). [Note - to this day 4/21/06 EPC has not been able to answer a single question for me or return a signle phone call in spite of numerous messages.] We (Weedless Control) will call them for you.
What the heck, I did so good with Swiftmud in Brooksville I decided to try my hand ringing up a few other organizations. So, I called the City of Tampa who sent me to Swiftmud Tampa who volunteered Roberta is not a Lake, probably man made hole. Then Hillsborough County Environmental Commission (EPC) volunteered while they can't fix anything we probably will need a permit. Not sure, but probably need a miscellaneous activities permit to treat hydrilla. So I called the Temple Terrace Office of the EPA followed by the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department. They said if it's there we probably mow it. Now it's time to call the big spenders at the State of Florida Capitol. Title Determination says Florida owns no Lakes and that the title was transferred most likely to the Tampa Port Authority. Well, I had talked to a lot of nice folks but so far, really only learned that not many people know Hampton Terrace even has a lake. They suspect I am nuts until I get them to yahoo the area. Then they at least admit there is a circular road that looks like the type of thing that might go around a lake. Or at least a meteor strike hole.
Learned that the Weeki hydrilla isn't bad enough for them to come out and treat it yet. Guess they have me harvesting it so it looks ok to them. To treat a portion of a canal, off the river, they basically have to treat the whole canal. Won't do that till its real ugly. Glad I didn't waste bucks on the herbicide. Did learn a bit about how the state deals, or doesn't deal with hydrilla. Also learned we suffer from filamentous algae. Since it's not classified as an alien invader it remains cool beans with Swiftmud. Stated otherwise, yer on yer own. That stuff is icky.
Well, we sort of decided to help tackle some of the water issues in two places at once, Lake Roberta and a good swimming spot about 50 miles away in Weeki Wachee. A Weeki neighbor wanted us to chip in and help buy some hydrilla herbicide for the river and I thought I'd do a bit of investigation before we started sprinkling pellets on mullet and snapper. Started out by talking to Swiftmud in Brooksville, the organization that administrates best as I can tell the hydrilla control within the river. They would go check the water out and respond. They sent me to Swiftmud near Tampa for Tampa issues. DOH, I should have known that.
