Trying To Be Patient

Well I finally sent a note of mild despair to the City of Tampa. We shall see if it accomplishes anything other than being viewed as a mild rant. And so it went like -

I've been somewhat perplexed by the lack of interest in our neighborhood lake, known as Lake Roberta. Many people congregate and exercise daily around what is actually a small pond that feeds into the Hillsborough River. I have talked to Swiftmud, Hillsborough County EPC, Temple Terrace EPA, Tampa Parks and Recreation, Tampa Stormwater, Mosquito and Aquatic Weed Control, Lowry Park, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the DEP trying to get an organization interested in helping us restore and maintain this wonderful resource. It saddens me that TampaGov has so little interest in helping interested residents protect natural resources. It really is almost comical, the lack of interest combined with the “call this department runaround mentality”. So, I am coming to you directly.

Please take time to read a bit about this lake at http://carpetthelake.blogspot.com/

It is in the Hampton Terrace area of Seminole Heights. I would be most appreciative if the City would get interested in helping us maintain and improve the conditions of the lake. How many places do you think there are in the city where water fowl can actually breed and survive. Our lake is plagued by invasive hydrilla, spatterdock is out of control and we are trying to do the right thing. Lowry Park harvests hydrilla here to feed their recovering manatees. All right under the City’s nose! Please inform the mayor this lake exists and ask if her administration can help. The county offers an adopt-a-pond program, does Tampa offer anything?

Thanks and regards,

Days Gone By Lake Pics

Here's a link to some technical information about the lake.

Comings And Goings

Well, we had two peking ducks dropped off. Very tame and quite friendly. Guess somebody decided they didn't want their ducks after all. Too bad. They really clung to each other, wrapping their necks. So beautiful with their lovely nervous quacks. Sadly one was gone by the next morning. Vanished. Sad fate, raising a duck only to dump it into strange territory. These two were so neat.

Happily the remaining one has become best pals with the last of the mallards. Two odd ducklings. We call the white one Daisy and the brown one Dori.

Another female has 12 duckettes. These newborn ducks actually get to enjoy some water now that the lake has filled.

Note the level of the water in relation to the overflow in this pic of baby ducklings getting YMCA swim lessons. You can still see the top of the overflow exposed.

In this pic we had another rain and the lake is now pretty full. Overflow is underwater now. Probably time to check out the contents of the storm sceptre thing. C'mon Tampa Stormwater - where's the grate? Oh, I checked into the adopt a pond program and the county offers some nice help with lakes under their authority, but since we are City, no help.

Water In A Bowl

Well sadly 2 of the mallards were killed by a car. That left 10. We watched them learn to fly over about 4 days and then poof, 8 were gone. Off to greener pastures I think. That left two. One evening a grouchy older female showed up and one more young-un left. Looks like we have 1 little female hanging around.
Rain filled the lake a good bit which really has the frogs and toads excited. There is a dull roar at night now.

We were visited by three Canadian Geese for a few days. They would eat out of your hand. Very tame. Two very black adult muscovies showed up for 2 days and then disappeared again.

This little guy is hard to see but he has a lovely white crest he can flip around. Kind of looks like a snowy egret on top of it's head, but not entirely white. I'm not sure about what it is but it often visits.

The young muscovies aren't really flying yet, but they sure look a lot better with some water to bathe in!

Home Alone

Sadly the female mallard has been gone for a couple weeks now. Seems odd since we think she's supposed to stick around until the little ones learn to fly. The male was here until last night. We think he's gone this morning. Before he left (if he did) we got to watch him fly laps around the lake again and buzz the newbie pilots. We could hear them quack each time he got close. That same night we watched 10 of the 12 fly across part of the lake. Two walked. A couple cruised above the palm trees. Hopefully, they are figuring out what wings are used for. Guess they will be leaving and we sure will miss them. All 12 seem to be doing fine.
Nothing like a grouchy Moorehen to disturb a nice breakfast - RUN AWAY!!!!!

These guys are probably going to be a problem down the road, but they sure are funny and friendly. Been 12 for weeks and they actually are starting to get along a bit with the mallards.

Hrrrmmmm

Guess not everyone can read? Makes one wonder. C'mon people now, smile on your brother, etc, etc. Let's work together. A leash! Now there's an idea. Oh, another yellow lil duck gone. Twelve left now and 12 mallards, one with a limpy sore flipper.

Shiny Happy ... Concrete

Stormwater spend a couple days working for us. They sandbagged the wall and poured a new concrete base at the overflow. The grate should be here anytime which is the final piece for the carp permit. Other than paying for the buggers. Probably need a bit more water first so the gator doesn't catch them too easily.

Concrete rubble was installed to slow the waterflow down the south side of the lake. Guess the pits were getting too deep.

The old concrete from the overflow was combined with new chunks to improve the effectiveness of the rip rap.