Bit O History
Heard this:
[Somebody's] grandfather had built some of the first houses in Seminole Heights. He said his grandfather told him about some of the cattle drives and that even in the 20s there were a few. The lake, he said, was dug out by the Lykes probably where a spring already existed. They used it to "fatten" up the cattle by allowing them to drink water before the last two miles before the port where they would be weighed and transported to Cuba.
And then I learned:
The plant life [in our lake] typically provides oxygen to the water. Decaying plant and other humic material (like leaves) typically absorb oxygen. From the sampling we've sent in, we were told that the lake is eutrophic, which means there are lots of nutrients. Removing the plant life is the perfect solution as it allows new plants to grow and remove more nutrients. That plant life doesn't fall to the bottom to decay. Carp are pretty hardy fish. The heat and high nutrient levels might hurt other fish.
As far as funding, the neighborhood association has funded things in the past. This is an important issue all over Seminole Heights as many residents used to play here as children. The Christmas lights and the Christmas concert are some of our biggest events. However, I'd like to get as much matching funding and grants as possible. Martin Montalvo sits on the Florida Lake Management Society board and says there are Love Your Lake grants available and that if we had a plan, we could apply for funding. It's at grants. [Names removed] , who are building next to your old house, have helped with construction before. They laid the footers for the lake entry sign. So we could have monetary and community help.
I also have access to a company who can make a grate for us out of stainless steel. So with that value, money from the association, contributions in labor (and money) from the neighbors, we should be able to cover it.
And then I asked if drought kills the floating plants or hydrilla:
The lilies live off a rhizome root system. If that dries up, they die. They can only grow in 6 feet or less depth. When the rains come, they'll be covered up and they'll die. The root system remains alive. The lily, known as cow lily or spatterdock, is native to Florida. The parks department did a spraying last time and they may do it again if asked. However, the spraying of the lilies caused an uproar last time. I don't think people would mind a controlled kill but we'd have to inform people of the reason. The lilies do provide cover for fish and keep the water temps lower. By making the lake deeper, we're hoping that will control vegetation as well.
So we now know some people hate lillies and some love them. Isn't America great? The trick seems to be balancing the plant, bird, and waterlife. Except the hydrilla. Death to hydilla!
[Somebody's] grandfather had built some of the first houses in Seminole Heights. He said his grandfather told him about some of the cattle drives and that even in the 20s there were a few. The lake, he said, was dug out by the Lykes probably where a spring already existed. They used it to "fatten" up the cattle by allowing them to drink water before the last two miles before the port where they would be weighed and transported to Cuba.
And then I learned:
The plant life [in our lake] typically provides oxygen to the water. Decaying plant and other humic material (like leaves) typically absorb oxygen. From the sampling we've sent in, we were told that the lake is eutrophic, which means there are lots of nutrients. Removing the plant life is the perfect solution as it allows new plants to grow and remove more nutrients. That plant life doesn't fall to the bottom to decay. Carp are pretty hardy fish. The heat and high nutrient levels might hurt other fish.
As far as funding, the neighborhood association has funded things in the past. This is an important issue all over Seminole Heights as many residents used to play here as children. The Christmas lights and the Christmas concert are some of our biggest events. However, I'd like to get as much matching funding and grants as possible. Martin Montalvo sits on the Florida Lake Management Society board and says there are Love Your Lake grants available and that if we had a plan, we could apply for funding. It's at grants. [Names removed] , who are building next to your old house, have helped with construction before. They laid the footers for the lake entry sign. So we could have monetary and community help.
I also have access to a company who can make a grate for us out of stainless steel. So with that value, money from the association, contributions in labor (and money) from the neighbors, we should be able to cover it.
And then I asked if drought kills the floating plants or hydrilla:
The lilies live off a rhizome root system. If that dries up, they die. They can only grow in 6 feet or less depth. When the rains come, they'll be covered up and they'll die. The root system remains alive. The lily, known as cow lily or spatterdock, is native to Florida. The parks department did a spraying last time and they may do it again if asked. However, the spraying of the lilies caused an uproar last time. I don't think people would mind a controlled kill but we'd have to inform people of the reason. The lilies do provide cover for fish and keep the water temps lower. By making the lake deeper, we're hoping that will control vegetation as well.
So we now know some people hate lillies and some love them. Isn't America great? The trick seems to be balancing the plant, bird, and waterlife. Except the hydrilla. Death to hydilla!
posted by George at 1:58 PM
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