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Dedicated to Sharing Information About Water Management and the Florida LAKEWATCH Program Volume 43 (2008)

Florida LAKEWATCH Aquatic Bird Survey

Because Florida’s wetlands are continuingto be altered or destroyed, the utilization ofaquatic habitat by bird communities needsto be documented. Since FloridaLAKEWATCH volunteers expressed adesire to survey the birds using Florida’swater bodies, we provided them a way todo just that! Thanks to their monitoringefforts, we have now have a large database that will help in determining whichbird species are associated with Floridawater bodies and in developing futuremanagement strategies. These data,combined with water chemistry andaquatic plant data, also give FloridaLAKEWATCH staff and otherprofessionals a way to examine theecology of aquatic birds that utilize thesesystems.

The objective of the FloridaLAKEWATCH Aquatic Bird Survey wasto establish a standardized, long-termcitizen-monitoring program to examineseasonal and yearly trends in birdpopulations using Florida’s aquatichabitats. These statewide bird surveysprovide volunteers with a means todocument bird populations using the areasnear water bodies and to monitor usagetrends over time. Through their efforts, aconsiderable number of bird species havebeen directly observed and quantified.These data are now being used to examinelong-term trends in bird diversity andabundance

For our purposes, “aquatic birds” weredefined as “all bird species that utilize any

type of aquatic or shoreline habitat.” Thisprogram was designed to monitor long-term and seasonal trends in birdabundance, so we asked the volunteers todo at least one bird survey per month.Before beginning the actual bird counts,volunteers were encouraged to learn thebird species that frequent their area byusing a field identification guide. Weadvised volunteers to create a list ofcommon bird species for their area andthen practice estimating the numbers

Continued on page 2.

FloridaLAKEWATCH

The Little Blue Heron is a common visitor to Florida waterbodies.

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observed for the various species. Whenpossible, we talked with the volunteers toevaluate their birding skills, establish thespecifics of the survey protocol for theirlake, and answer any questions they mighthave.

A protocol was developed so that birdsurveys would be done in similar mannerto allow for meaningful comparisons. Weasked that bird counts be conducted byslowly boating once around the edge of thelake while counting all birds observedusing aquatic habitats. Although wepreferred bird surveys to be done from aboat, surveys that were performed bywalking the shoreline or from a fixed pointon the volunteer’s property were accepted.Volunteers were instructed to recordwhether their surveys were done by boat,by walking around the water body’sshoreline, or by observing from a fixedlocation such as a dock or yard.

Florida LAKEWATCH volunteers begancounting birds using aquatic habitats in

Table 1. List of the 50 most commonly observed birds using aquatic habitats assurveyed by Florida LAKEWATCH volunteers between 2000-2008. Observedrepresents the number of surveys during which the species was observed and includesall 115 water bodies. Bird species marked with an asterisk (*) are considered by FloridaLAKEWATCH to be strictly aquatic species.

Bird Species Observed Bird Species ObservedGreat Blue Heron * 1011 Pied-billed Grebe * 227Anhinga * 983 Common Grackle 215Great Egret * 917 Wood Stork * 182Osprey * 738 Blue Jay 180Little Blue Heron * 703 Terns * 178Crows 657 Muscovy Duck * 173Common Moorhen * 627 Northern Cardinal 167White Ibis * 586 Limpkin * 157Boat-tailed Grackle * 568 Northern Mockingbird 149Double-crested Cormorant * 560 Purple Martin * 127Red-winged Blackbird * 549 Swallows * 125Belted Kingfisher * 542 Purple Gallinule * 110Mallard * 509 Mourning Dove 97Turkey Vulture 464 Red-tailed Hawk 94Gulls * 424 Domestic Duck * 91Red-shouldered Hawk 421 Killdeer * 89Snowy Egret * 396 Ducks * 86Wood Duck * 394 Glossy Ibis * 85American Coot * 371 Brown Pelican * 85Green-backed Heron * 334 Domestic Goose * 83Black Vulture 321 Mottled Duck * 73Tricolored Heron * 318 Black-crowned Night-Heron * 71Sandhill Crane * 286 Doves 68Bald Eagle * 256 Rock Dove 67Cattle Egret 251 Mixed Vultures 64

2000. Since that time they haveconducted bird counts on 115 aquaticsystems that include lakes, rivers, andcoastal bays.

Lakes dominated the aquatic systemswith a total of 107 lakes, 5 rivers, and3 bays being surveyed between 2000and 2008. Surveys were returnedfrom 23 counties located throughoutthe state from the western panhandleto south Florida. The counties withthe most survey observations wereHillsborough, Orange, Lake, Polk,and Highlands. This is not surprisingsince these counties have lots of lakesand many active volunteers.

More than 150 bird species wereidentified during the bird surveys,with some species being observed

many times on the 115 water bodiesthat were surveyed (Table 1) andother species being spotted on only afew occasions (Table 2). Based on thenumber of surveys each species wasreported on, the Great Blue Heronwas the most commonly observedspecies followed by the Anhinga,Great Egret, Osprey, and Little BlueHeron. Other birds, while not usuallyconsidered to be strictly aquaticspecies yet were commonly observed,included crows, vultures, hawks,swallows, and doves (Table 1). Manyof the less commonly observed birdslisted in Table 2 are not generallyconsidered to be strictly aquaticspecies, as would be expected. Theyinclude various songbirds such asvireos, finches, thrushes, wrens, andwarblers.

The Great Blue Heron was the most commonlysighted bird on Florida lakes from 2000 to 2008 inthe Florida LAKEWATCH aquatic bird survey.

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However, quite a few species that areconsidered to be strictly aquaticspecies are also found in Table 2 andwere not observed frequently. Forexample, the Snowy Plover, Wilson’sPlover, Gadwall, Bufflehead, SnailKite, and Greater Yellowlegs areconsidered to be strictly aquaticspecies, yet were rarely reported. Thespecies listed in Tables 1 and 2 andmarked with an asterisk (*) arespecies that Florida LAKEWATCHconsiders to be strictly aquatic bird

Florida LAKEWATCH has a protocol for beginning an aquatic bird survey;just contact your regional coordinator or Eric Schulz at 1-800-525-3928 for

more information. For those individuals interested in starting an aquatic birdsurvey, but unable to identify aquatic birds, we recommend acquiring a

good field guide to birds such as the Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds orA Guide to Field Identification Birds of North America.

for beginning an aquatic bird survey;just contact your regional coordinatoror Eric Schulz at 1-800-525-3928. Forthose individuals interested in startingan aquatic bird survey, but unable toidentify aquatic birds, we recommendacquiring a good field guide to birdssuch as the Peterson Field Guide toEastern Birds or A Guide to FieldIdentification Birds of North America.Learning to identify the mostcommon birds listed in Table 1 willbe very helpful and will make yournew hobby more interesting. Thenyou can have fun while helping tomonitor the birds using your aquaticsystem.

An adult male snail kite photographed in theeverglades has dinner in talon.

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Table 2. List of the 50 least frequently observed birds using aquatic habitatsas surveyed by Florida LAKEWATCH volunteers between 2000-2008.Observed represents the number of surveys during which the species wasobserved and includes all 115 water bodies. Bird species marked with anasterisk (*) are considered by Florida LAKEWATCH to be strictly aquaticspecies.

Bird Species Observed Bird Species ObservedWhite-eyed Vireo 2 Prairie Warbler 1Summer Tanager 2 Orioles 1Snowy Plover * 2 Northern Waterthrush * 1Sanderling * 2 Northern Oriole 1Purple Finch 2 Nightingales 1Nighthawk 2 Mississippi Kite * 1Gadwall * 2 Merlin 1Eurasian collared-dove 2 Marsh Wren * 1Domestic Parrot 2 Lesser Yellowlegs * 1Brown-headed Nuthatch 2 Least Tern * 1Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Indigo Bunting 1Wood Thrush 1 House Wren 1Wilson's Plover * 1 Hooded Warbler 1Wilson's Phalarope * 1 Greater Yellowlegs * 1Whistling Ducks * 1 Florida Scrub Jay 1Water Pipit * 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1Thrushes 1 Eastern Towhee 1Song Sparrow 1 Domestic Guinea Hen 1Snail Kite * 1 Domestic Cockatiel 1Short-billed Dowitcher * 1 Bufflehead * 1Semipalmated Plover * 1 Brewer's Blackbird 1Sandwich Tern * 1 Bobolink 1Rusty Blackbird 1 Black Tern * 1Ruddy Turnstone * 1 Barn Swallow * 1Rails * 1 Bank Swallow * 1

considers to be strictly aquaticspecies.

We thank everyone who hasparticipated in the bird surveys andhope they will continue to monitor thebird populations on their aquaticsystems.We also encourage anyonewho is interested to begin doing birdsurveys on the aquatic system of theirchoice.

Florida LAKEWATCH has a protocol

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The Cradle of the Ocean: Estuaries

What are estuaries?

Estuaries are semi-enclosed areas,such as bays and lagoons, where freshwater meets and mixes with saltyocean waters. Estuaries are dynamicsystems with constantly changingtides and temperatures where salinity(concentration of salt in the water)varies temporally and spatially.

Survival of plants and animals inestuaries requires special adaptations.The ebb and flow of tides may leavesome plants and animals, such asmarsh grasses and oysters,temporarily high and dry.Temperatures in shallow estuarinewaters can range from freezing tomore than 100° F during the course ofa year and expose marine organismsto intense sunlight and drying.

Estuarine organisms are naturallyadapted to withstand these ranges insalinity, tides, sunlight, andtemperatures. They must, however,have a balanced flow of fresh and saltwater. This balance can be upset iftoo much fresh water enters the

Estuaries are among the mostproductive landscapes in nature.Rivers and streams drain intoestuaries, bringing nutrients fromuplands. Plants use these nutrientsalong with the sun’s energy, carbondioxide, and water to manufacturefood. Among the important plantforms that contribute to estuaries aremicroscopic floating plants calledphytoplankton and larger macroalgaethat are attached to the bottom.Rooted plants include marsh grasses,mangroves, and seagrasses. Whenthese larger plants die, they arecolonized by microbes (bacteria,fungi, and other organisms) that breakthem down into detritus. Duringdecomposition, detritus becomessmaller and smaller until the nutrientsand particles can become food forbillions of small animals. Largeranimals feed directly on these tinyparticles and on smaller animals thatfed on the detritus, and energy istransferred through the food web toprogressively larger organisms. Aslong as nutrient rich, pollutant free,fresh water continues to mix withmarine waters in our estuaries, theywill remain productive fisheries.

estuary, which can happen whencauseways are constructed, impedingthe free flow of tides: or if too littlefresh water is available, as occursduring drought and when a river isdiverted or dammed. Estuarine-dependant marine life may die if thebalance of fresh and salt water is notmaintained.

Why are estuaries special?

“The cradle of the ocean” is anappropriate description of estuaries.More than 95% of Florida’srecreationally and commerciallyimportant fishes, crustaceans, andshellfish spend periods of their livesin estuaries, usually when they areyoung. Many fish and crustaceansmigrate offshore to spawn or breed.The eggs develop into larvae(immature forms) that are transportedinto estuaries by tides and currents.The shallow waters, salt marshes,seagrasses, and mangroves provideexcellent places to hide from largerpredators. Some species grow inestuaries for a short time, but othersmay remain there all their lives.

An estuary in Florida.

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Without estuaries, many importantfisheries would disappear. Snook,trout, mullet, grouper, redfish,sheepshead, spiny lobster, shrimp,crabs, oysters and clams are examplesof the diverse marine animalsdependent upon healthy estuaries.Estuaries also provide roosting andnesting areas, or rookeries for manybirds, including several endangeredand protected species, such as brownpelicans.

Florida’s estuaries

Loss of estuarine habitat is a seriousproblem along Florida’s coasts.Florida is undergoing tremendousgrowth and 78% of Florida’sestimated 14 million residents live incoastal areas. Coastal development isdamaging marine-fisheries habitatsthat are important in maintainingviable commercial and recreationalfisheries. Dredge-and-fill operationsfor waterfront homes and seawallconstruction destroy mangroveshoreline and underwater seagrasses.Although these activities maytemporarily enhance real estatevalues, they ultimately decrease long-term value as natural amenitiesdisappear, the water becomes foul,and wildlife departs.

Scientists at the Florida Fish andWildlife Conservation Commission’sFish and Wildlife Research Institute(FWRI) use information fromLANDSAT and other satellites tomap and monitor Florida’s coast. Bylooking at aerial photographs fromdifferent years, scientist can locateand measure the acreage of existingestuarine habitat components such assalt marshes, mangroves, andseagrasses and can observe trends inhabitat change. Results of habitattrend analyses have shown substantialloss of fisheries habitats throughoutFlorida. One study area on theAtlantic coast included the IndianRiver from Sebastian Inlet south to

The information used tocompile this article wasderived from a brochure

developed from the FloridaFish and Wildlife

Conservation Commission’sFish and Wildlife Research

Institute.You can visit them at:

http://research.MYFWC.com

the St. Lucie Inlet. In that area themangrove habitat available tofisheries declined 86% over a 40-yearperiod, and 30% of the seagrassacreage was lost. Over a 100-yearperiod, Tampa Bay, in southwestFlorida lost 81% of its seagrasses and40% of it mangrove and salt marshacreage.

How can you help protectthem?

Use common sense when you are on aboat, at the beach, at home, oranywhere else. Properly dispose of alltrash and debris in garbage cans. (seewater goat article on page 11).Always dispose of used automobileoil at recycling centers. Follow thelabels on fertilizers and pesticides anduse the proper amount when treatingyour yard. These simple steps canhelp protect Florida’s “cradle of theocean.”

The spiny lobster is one of many species that would disappear without estuaries.

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An aerial view of Sanibel Island on the south-west coast of Florida.

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MECHANICAL HARVESTORLAKEWATCH now owns an Aquarius EH-220 aquatic plant harvester that volunteers may use

depending on availability.

LAKEWATCH is making this harvester available to its valued volunteers. The harvester is used to control problemaquatic plants and it works best in shallow areas of the waterbody. If aquatic plants interfere with a particular lake use then it isgenerally considered a problem. If you have identified an aquatic plant problem in your lake that you think a harvester could help,ours is now available to you for a donation to Florida LAKEWATCH. The recommended donation for the use of the machine is$50 per hour without an operator and $100 per hour with an operator. There is also a delivery cost of $0.55 per mile.

The harvester is approximately 31 feet long and 12 feet wide. The EH-220 harvester has a five-foot wide cutting swath,can cut to approximately seven feet deep and is ideally suited for smaller water bodies. The harvester’ s hydraulic system thatcontrols the craft contains a fluid that is a biodegradable making it safe for lakes. The harvester offers an environmental friendlymethod of controlling unwanted aquatic vegetation. It acts like an underwater lawn mower cutting the vegetation and storing it onthe deck. Once the holding capacity of the harvester is met, then the harvester returns to shore to unload harvested plant material.

Individuals interested in using the harvester will be responsible for obtaining all required permits. To reserve theharvester for your use, contact Daniel E. Canfield, Jr. at 352-392-9617 ext. 246 or decan@ufl.edu.

New LAKEWATCH Collection Centersin Polk County

Volunteer Bulletin Board

Announcement:Merger of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences and the School of ForestResources & Conservation

Florida LAKEWATCH Volunteers and Stakeholders:

The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences has merged with theSchool of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC) and will now be oneof three broad programmatic areas within the SFRC along with Geomaticsand Forest Resources and Conservation. The faculty and staff of theProgram for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (PFAS) will continue todeliver the premier teaching, research and extension programs that haveearned them national acclaim.

The Florida LAKEWATCH program will also continue as it has in thepast. Volunteers who are familiar with working though the Department ofFisheries and Aquatic Sciences telephone systems and occasionalletterhead should not be alarmed at the new titles that will be used. TimWhite is the overall Director of the SFRC, while George Blakeslee andTom Frazer are the Associate Directors.

BartowUF/IFAS Extension OfficeContact: John BrennemanPhone: 863-519-8677Address: 1702 Hwy 17/98 S(PO Box 9005 Drawer HS03),Bartow, Florida 33859

LakelandLakeland Public Works DepartmentContacts: Lakes Manager - Doug GlecklerLake’s Program Coordinator – Cindy HillPhone: 863-834-8429Address: 407 Fairway Ave.,Lakeland, Florida 33801

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LAKEWATCHNEEDS YOU!

Osceola County

Ajay JacksonBoggy Cove Kissimmee

Brick Live OakBuck Marion

Cat Runnymeade

CypressTohopekligaWest Middle

Fells CoveTohopekligaWest North

GentryTohopekligaWest South

Orange County

Adair Chase

Angelina ChristieApopka ClaireArnold ClearAvalon Como

Baldwin Conway NorthBay Conway SouthBell Copeland

Big Sand Crystal

Big Sand Bay CypressBlanche Daniel

C DavisCane Dot

Cay Dee DreamCharity North Druid

Orange County

Price TennesseeRabama Terrace

Richmond Theresa

RockTimber River

Pond

Rose UnderhillRouse Wade

Rowena WalkerSan Susan Waunatta

Santiago Wauseon BaySawyer WestSheen WhippoorwillSilver William Davis

Smith WillisariaSpring WinyahSue Wise

Sybelia

Alachua County

Bonnet Johnson Pond

Calf PondMagnesiaSprings

Clear MetaDean Pond Mize

Gwynn Oaks Moon

Holly Forest Moss

BonnetWatermelon

Pond

Orange County

Estelle Lawne

Estelle East Lawsona

Eulalia Little ConwayEve Little Down

Fairview Little Pheasant

Fischer Little Wauseon BayFloy Lorna Doone

Gatlin Louise

Gear LoveGem Lucerne East

George Lucerne West

Greenwood LucienHiawassee Maitland

Highland Mann

Hope MargaretHorseshoe Marshall

Hubbert Martha

Irma Mary JessIsleworth Metro West

Ivanhoe East MiraIvanhoeMiddle Nan

IvanhoeNorthwest Olive

Ivanhoe West Orlando

Jessamine ParkKillarney Pearl

La Grange Pineloch

Lancaster Pocket

These lakes have been inactive for over one year. If you know ofanyone who might want to sample any of these lakes please

have them call us at 1-800-525-3928 or e-mail us atfl-lakewatch@ufl.edu

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“Water, water, everywhere and not adrop to drink…” A telling line from afamous poem should give allFloridians an appreciation for theimportance and responsibility of goodwater stewardship. Florida’s initialimpetus for reuse stems from effortsin the early 1970’s aimed ateliminating environmentaldegradation caused by sewageeffluent disposal. In 1989, theLegislature established a stateobjective to encourage and promoteconservation and the reuse ofreclaimed water. Where are wetoday?

The water consumers mantra shouldbe: “Conserve, Recycle, and Reuse.”Conservation of water is by far thefirst and easiest way to reducegroundwater withdrawals. It alsoreduces the amount of discharges andthe associated energy and chemicalsneeded to prepare the water forreintroduction into the environment.One of the simplest examples ofconserving water in the home iscapturing rainwater for use inwatering shrubbery and ornamentalplants. The rain barrel is once againbeing recommended by today’sconservationists and is referred to aswater harvesting.

The term “recycle” as applied here isdefined as reusing the same watermultiple times. Recycling ofirrigation water through tail waterrecovery, field border irrigation pits,and rainfall harvesting are alreadybeing implemented in agricultural andnursery operations. Basically,growing areas are designed withwater catchment systems to facilitatethe reapplication of runoff water tothe growing area. Industries,commercial businesses, andinstitutions also use closed loopcooling systems and cooling towersin their air conditioning systems,effectively allowing the water to beused again and again.

Reuse is the deliberate application ofreclaimed water (secondarily treated

A utility in Walton County installed areclaimed water redistribution systemfor irrigating a new residentialdevelopment in an effort to reduce thewithdrawal of fresh water from thelocal coastal aquifer wells. Wellsalong the coastal areas are subject tosaltwater intrusion if excessivewithdrawals occur, so minimizing ordiverting water use from coastalwells reduces this threat. SeminoleCounty is one of several countieswhere residential reclaimed retrofitprograms are being planned that willconstruct reclaimed water pipes toresidents in various communities.

In Manatee County there is afederally funded grant program forconnecting agricultural users to the

Recycling is Not Just for Aluminumand Plastic!

One of the simplest examples of conserving water in the home is capturingrainwater for use in watering shrubbery and ornamental plants.

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sewage effluent) for a beneficialpurpose (e.g., irrigation, car washes,and flushing toilets) but not forpotable uses. Reclaimed water linesare being planned and installed innew housing developmentsthroughout Florida. Wastewater iscollected, treated, and redistributedthrough reclaimed water distributionsystems. One potential problemassociated with using secondarilytreated sewage effluent for irrigationin residential areas is the concern thatthese nutrient-rich waters mayactually increase the eutrophicationof nearby water bodies.

Some Counties have already takenthe initiative

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0102030405060708090100

% Rate of Reuse of Reclaimed

Water

NWFWMD SWFWMD SJRWMD SFWMDWater Management District

Water ReuseCounty’s reclaimed water lines.Currently, a minimal amount ofreclaimed water is used foragricultural irrigation due torestrictions in using reclaimed wateron edible crops due to potentialhealth issues. Additionally,reclaimed water used incontainerized growing operationscan lead to salt build up in nurserystock and can injure susceptibleplants. Other agricultural operationswould likely benefit from reclaimedwater use.

Since reuse has generally beenviewed as a means of disposing ofwastewater effluent without harmingthe environment, regulatoryagencies have not been concernedwith how efficiently reclaimedwater is used. The watermanagement districts are beginningto encourage efficient reuse thatoffsets water demand or rechargesground water supplies.It has been estimated that reuse ofreclaimed water has reducedwastewater discharges by 36%statewide according to a reportbased on the Florida Department ofEnvironmental Protection’s 1999Reuse Inventory.

Water Management Districtsprovide general guidance

Florida’s Five Water ManagementDistricts (WMD) influence wateruser decisions about implementingreuse by using financial incentivesand through their policies. SomeWMD will not approve permits touse traditional water sources whenthey believe that it is feasible to usereclaimed water, whereas otherdistricts are more relaxedconcerning reuse as long as existingdischarges do not violate existingresource protection standards. Infact, WMD policies vary widely andresult in different outcomes becausestate law does not clearly define the

circumstances under which it isfeasible to use reclaimed water.

The Northwest Florida WMD doesnot permit the use of groundwater forcertain types of irrigation in itscoastal Water Resource Caution Areadue to the potential for saltwaterintrusion. As a result, this district hasachieved a 93% rate of reuse ofreclaimed water and avoided anadditional 17% in withdrawals fromoverused water resources. The St.Johns River WMD also takes a strongregulatory stance when permitting topromote reuse, but the applicant hasthe final right to determine feasibility.If the WMD determines that theapplicant has biased the feasibilitystudy, they will usually requireadditional supporting evidence. As aresult of this policy, the district hasachieved a 49% reuse of reclaimedwater.

In the South Florida WMD, where thehuman population is concentrated,reuse is rarely implemented. Onereason for this is that the WMDcontinues to allow wastewater utilitiesto use discharge methods that aresignificantly less costly. Manyutilities depend on ocean outfall andunderground injection discharges thatare not discouraged in favor of reuseunless they represent expandeddischarges. The WMD will continueto follow this policy unless stricterstandards are established regarding

discharges so that costly reuseprograms are offset by the morestringent regulations. As a result ofthis policy, the district has achievedonly a 22% rate of reuse.

The Southwest Florida WMD has adifferent reuse policy. The WMDtakes a strong regulatory position toencourage reuse implementation andthe district uses a 50% funding matchas a financial incentive to help buildreclaimed water systems wherefeasible. As a result of this costsharing policy, the district hasachieved a 51% rate of reuse.

All districts are looking at reclaimedwater as a significant alternativewater supply resource and there is ageneral projection of increased reusethroughout the state. As thewidespread use of reclaimed water isrelatively new, issues regardingallocation and pricing are rare.Another issue is conservation ofreclaimed water. Reclaimed water is acommodity that may be sold bywastewater utilities and is not directlyregulated under the watermanagement districts’ consumptiveuse permitting rules. Most sources ofwater that are permitted requireefficient water use, but theserequirements do not currently applyto reclaimed water. These and otherissues will probably be addressed inthe context of broader state-widewater policy issues in the near future.

The scope of uses and standards of greywater and wastewater reuse are outlined in Chapter 62-610, Florida Administrative Code and Title XXIX, Public Health Chapter 381.0065 of the FloridaStatutes. These policies mainly address reclaimed or secondarily treated water, but are also the

only legal restriction close to greywater that Florida possesses.

The five Florida Water Management Districts policies vary widely on the reuseof reclaim water resulting in different rates of reuse. No information wasavailable for the Suwannee River WMD.

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Bob Forbes has been an active volunteerfor the Florida LAKEWATCH programfrom October 1996 through his recentretirement in May of this year. Bob said,“At my age I’m beginning to realize thatthe older I get the better I was, so I amretiring from Florida LAKEWATCHwhich I have enjoyed performing withmy dogs: Chanel and Hugo.” Bob’sdevoted four-legged assistants helpedwith the sampling duties from a 1965Correct Craft dubbed the Kennelcraft.Originally, Bob requested to sample onLake Dora since that is where he resides.However, another volunteer was alreadysampling Lake Dora so Bob would havebeen trained as a backup. Withouthesitation, Bob decided to travel to LakeCarlton for sampling because he reallywanted to participate as a primarysampler. Lake Carlton is located in bothLake and Orange Counties, but mainly inOrange County, on the Ocklawaha chainof lakes and is located at latitude N28°45’ 32” and longitude W81° 39’ 29”.

Bob retired from Eli Lilly & Company inIndianapolis as a pharmaceuticalchemist in 1983 and was acharter member of theIndianapolis Sailing Club forabout 30 years. Since he had awooden Century Aerostat, aLarsen sailboat, an early windsurfer, and an 18-foot lightweightGrumman canoe, Bob needed aplace with plenty of water so hecould use all his watercraft. Bobsaid, “My wife would havepreferred that we spend ourretirement years in Santa Fe,New Mexico, but she knew therecreational waters there couldnot compare to those in LakeCounty, Florida.”

Bob was attracted to the LakeCounty area because of the largenumber of lakes. He startedexploring the lakes with his boatand joined the Antique ClassicBoating Association. Theassociation encouraged him tostart leading water events in theHarris and Clermont Chain ofLakes. Bob has navigated theDead River, Lake Harris, Helena

Run, Bugg Springs, and Lake Denham.Two major cruises were from Lake Dorato Palatka and also a few on the St. JohnsRiver from Sanford to Jacksonville andback. He has also traveled on much of theWithlacoochee River, all of the ClermontChain’s eleven lakes, and from GourdNeck Springs in the southern part of LakeApopka throughout the entire OcklawahaChain. Very few boaters have navigatedall of the wonderful waters that Bob hasenjoyed exploring for the past 25 years.

Bob’s recreational pursuits evolved intoan interest in water quality. Since hewanted to learn more about water quality,he joined Florida LAKEWATCH to helpcollect data that could be useful formanaging Florida lakes. He has also beeninvolved with other organizations andgovernment entities including the St.John’s River Water Management District,Lake County Conservation Council,Friends of Lake Apopka, Trout LakeWater Center, and the Alliance to ProtectWater Resources. Each spring, Bob hasparticipated in a volunteer program called

Bob Forbes with his LAKEWATCH notebook at the 2008 LakeCounty Regional meeting.

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Outstanding LAKEWATCH Volunteer

the “Ibini Terra Clean-Up”, which isan effort by the community to helpclean our lakes and canal systems,that the Lake County Water Authorityhas sponsored for many years. Someyears Bob helped by using his boatand other years by walking andwading. Although it is only a one-dayaffair, he believes that similarcommunity efforts do make a greatdifference.

Bob has also monitored water levelsin Lake Dora to investigate the effectsof water fluctuations on the lake’svegetation and aquatic organisms. Tokeep tabs on these changes, heconstructed various types of lakelevel gauges that were calibrated tothe St. Johns River WaterManagement District (SJRWMD)standard, which uses mean sea leveldata as the baseline. Bob has checkedthe gauges daily for many years. Hehas records for Lake Dora since 1970showing a historical high of 65 feet

above mean sea level (msl)during January 1998 and ahistorical low of 60.1 feet abovemsl during July 2007. OnFebruary 20, 2008, the lakelevel was recorded at 61 feetabove msl. The SJRWMDdesires the lake level to rangebetween 62 feet to 63.5 feetabove msl.

Bob’s interest, enthusiasm, andattention to detail in monitoringthe lakes of Lake County areexemplified by his 12-yearparticipation in the FloridaLAKEWATCH program. It hasbeen a pleasure working withBob because his dedication insampling Lake Carlton goesabove and beyond anything wecould have hoped for from avolunteer. We commend himfor offering his time andenergy. Since Bob has retiredfrom sampling, Riley Warddriphas been trained to carry on thesampling of Lake Carlton usingFlorida LAKEWATCHprocedures.

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Ahoy Neighbor! After every rainevent tons of organic matter, debris,trash, and chemicals pour out of ourstormwater pipes and into Florida’slakes, ponds, rivers, and intercoastalwaterways. Like most of you, wehave had more than our share ofheartache, discouragement andfrustration in dealing with thisproblem. With over a thousand peoplemoving into Florida every day, webelieve this problem is something thatcannot be overlooked any longer. Infact, our inspiration was anenvironmentally minded little sevenyear-old named Mia who never failedto appreciate the beauty around her.So with a strong desire to makesomething happen that truly affectsFlorida’s landscape, we set sail on anew adventure.

As founders of the Green Armadanon-profit organization, we becameincreasingly frustrated because somuch time was spent looking forfunding, attending meetings, andaddressing board members -definitely not our cup of tea! So whileothers were talking about doingsomething to clean up ourenvironment, we decided to go outand actually do it. After a decade ofcollecting up to 400 to 700 pounds oftrash per day from Tampa Bay’swaters, one piece at a time, wedecided to stop the trash at its mostconcentrated source – the outflows ofstormwater pipes. As a result, theconcept of the Watergoat™ as a cost-effective, efficient water clean upstrategy was born.

By combining the joint efforts ofcorporations, citizens, andmunicipalities we envisioned tacklingthe floating debris problem and waterquality of Florida’s waterways –much like the folks at FloridaLAKEWATCH. With research,engineering, and business plan inhand we started knocking on doors(mainly those of City Halls),reminding our municipalities that thestormwater systems in place today are

It’s tough, it’s tenacious, it eats trash…….it’s a Watergoat™

basically the same as those used bythe Romans over 2,000 years ago.Realizing that our state and localgovernments have limited budgetsand are often unable to allocate themanpower or devices to deal with thisgrowing problem, we designed theWatergoat™. This piece ofequipment provides an affordablesolution for anyone who desirescleaner shorelines and water systemsincluding concerned citizens, mayors,and even CEOs.

So why do we call it theWatergoat™? Because it is tough,tenacious, and it “eats” trash before ithas a chance to spread throughout thewater body. The Watergoat™ isaffordable with prices starting at$400. Its attributes include the abilityto raise and lower with rising andfalling water levels and the capacityto contain hundreds of pounds oftrash after a rain event withoutblocking the water flowing throughthe stormwater system. TheWatergoat™ also serves as an, orimportant educational tool byshowing the community that a gumwrapper or Styrofoam cup tossed intothe street a mile away could easilyend up floating in their lake, pond orstream if it was not captured by theWatergoat™ first.

The Watergoat™ can be customizedto any application from drainageditches to stormwater outflow pipes

measuring up to 48 inches indiameter. The Watergoat™ isconstructed of a welded aluminumframe that is reinforced with zincplating to prevent corrosion. It isdesigned and engineered to withstandstrong water velocity from outflowpipes. A rubberized nylon net baskethangs from the structure andeffectively contains the stormwaterdebris within the Watergoat™ itself.This environmentally friendly deviceis safe for wildlife and maintaining itis a snap – all you need is a dip net, agarbage bag, and about five minutes aweek to clean it out. As suggested byDr. Dan Canfield, in the near futurewe plan to add absorbent spongebooms that soak up gasoline, motoroil, and diesel fuel before it enters awater body. This addition will enablethe Watergoat™ to trap both trashand chemical substances, effectivelykeeping them out of our water bodies.How cool is that?!

The companion in this clean watersystem is the Watergoat™ Island. Weengineered our Watergoat™ Island tobe the least expensive, yet mosteffective, floating wetland on themarket. It is built on a 5 foot by 12foot floating aluminum frame and isequipped with a solar panel andaerating pump to improve theabsorption of nitrogen by the rootsystems of the native non-invasive

(Continued on page 12)

A watergoat deployed in a lake in Hillsborough County.

12

This newsletter is generated by the Florida

LAKEWATCH program, within UF/IFAS. Support

for the LAKEWATCH program is provided by the

Florida Legislature, grants and donations. For more

information about LAKEWATCH, to inquire about

volunteer training sessions, or to submit materials for

inclusion in this publication, write to:

Florida LAKEWATCHFisheries and Aquatic Sciences

School of Forestry Resource Conservation

7922 NW 71st Street

Gainesville, FL 32653

or call

1-800-LAKEWATCH (800-525-3928)

(352) 392-4817E-mail: fl-lakewatch@ufl.eduhttp://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/

All unsolicited articles, photographs, artwork or other

written material must include contributor’s name,

address and phone number. Opinions expressed are

solely those of the individual contributor and do not

necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of the Florida

LAKEWATCH program.

Florida LAKEWATCHFisheries and Aquatic SciencesSchool of Forestry Resource Conservation7922 NW 71st StreetGainesville, FL 32653

FloridaLAKEWATCH

with the help of major corporations,municipalities, and concerned citizenslike you. Currently the Watergoat™is working in St. Petersburg, Tampa,Miami, and Destin and is comingsoon to a lake or pond near you.We strongly believe that corporationswant a tangible return on their “greeninvestment”. The Watergoat™System provides documented results.Having operated in the non-profitworld, we know that funding sourcesrequire documented results too. TheWatergoat™ System providesdocumented results so thatorganizations like FloridaLAKEWATCH can continue to workwith concerned citizens and cleanFlorida’s waterways. In keeping withour philosophy, a portion of ourproceeds will be going back to theFlorida LAKEWATCH program.Please contact Mark S. Maksimowiczat earth101@newearthindustries.org(727) 459-2301 or check out ourwebsite at: www.watergoat.org

plants growing in the frame. Thismakes the perfect companion tolittoral plantings because if the waterlevel recedes from the sides of thelake or pond, the Watergoat™ Islandcontinues to filter the remaining waterin the middle of the lake.

Just a hundred years ago, Florida wasa vast wilderness of beautifulwetlands and forests. In just a fewdecades, we have altered thewatershed with concrete, asphalt, andimpervious surfaces that contributemore stormwater at a higher rate thanbefore. We have a right andresponsibility to do what we can tomitigate the negative effects ofincreased stormwater inputs. Weapplaud all the volunteers and staffmembers of Florida LAKEWATCH,an organization that truly knows howto get things done. In the future, wewill be installing components of theWatergoat™ System throughout theentire State of Florida – hopefully

It’s tough, it’s tenacious, it eats trash….it’s a Watergoat™ (Continued from page 11)