Author: John Schmidt

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Lake County Dock Information Updates 2022

March 13, 2022

Lake County Dock Information Updates 2022

John Schmidt

This is the latest information we received from Lake County today regarding docks. They say they may be changing these but for now this is what there is. There could also be Clermont Ordinances as there are in Oakland and Winter Garden.

   The length of a dock can be too long on some cases where the “channel” to navigate is narrow. We can have that on our lake now in one area over by the channel headed to the small lake to the northwest and on the south side of Deer Island if/when its developed. On the Orange County side we had three that were so long that the county changed their ordinance because of it. The Florida DEP documents are very vague and for inland lakes they don’t provide enough detail. Sometimes the town, city can have more stringent controls of course.

      On Johns Lake, we have people building over and through wetlands. We have people destroying habitat and being cited by FWC as they are supposed to replant with native vegetation. We have new docks being constructed with the final deck (walkway) height at or below NHWE. We have two story docks going in, large terminal platforms that exceed the guidelines and we don’t know if variances were granted. There are riparian line and set back issues.

 

Please see the following dock permitting PDFs for further information. As well you can read our full article on dock building here.

15.02.00___Clermont_Joint_Planning_Area__JPA__boat-docks.pdf
6.01.00___Protection_of_Wetlands_and_Waterbodies.pdf
SF_Docks.Final_.05.2020.pdf
15.02.00___Clermont_Joint_Planning_Area__JPA__boat-docks.pdf
6.01.00___Protection_of_Wetlands_and_Waterbodies.pdf
SF_Docks.Final_.05.2020.pdf
Name
15.02.00___Clermont_Joint_Planning_Area__JPA__boat-docks.pdf
6.01.00___Protection_of_Wetlands_and_Waterbodies.pdf
SF_Docks.Final_.05.2020.pdf
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Invasive Plants 2021

November 1, 2021

Invasive Plants 2021

John Schmidt

The lake was treated with herbicide early in November 2021. Some hydrilla helps the water clarity. The County uses a mix of herbicides and grass carp to keep the hydrilla in check.

From a FWC perspective the lake looks great. We have good coverage of submersed vegetation. Water clarity is good. We are seeing an upward trend in our largemouth bass population and noticing more ducks as well. In addition, FWC has treated the Cuban bulrush and other invasive species along the shoreline.

Florida’s Most Invasive Aquatic Plants

  • Hydrilla
  • Aquatic soda apple
  • Crested floating heart 
  • Cuban club-rush
  • Feathered mosquitofern
  • Giant salvinia
  • Hygrophila
  • Lyngbya
  • Water Primrose
  • Torpedograss
  • Water Hyacinth

Hydrilla
Cuban Club-Rush

As many lakefront homeowners already know, adding, removing or modifying the vegetation along the shoreline of Johns Lake is regulated by the state of Florida. These activities are monitored through a permitting process as part of the” Florida Aquatic Plant Management Act” and the “Florida Aquatic Weed Control Act”, both are administered by the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC).

Removal of harmful/invasive plant life is encouraged but it must be done properly and, in most cases, replanting of eco-friendly vegetation in place of the plants removed is required. This is necessary to strike a balance between allowing lakefront residents to enjoy the benefits of a nice, aquatic environment along their shoreline while maintaining healthy standards for appropriate foliage around Johns Lake in general. Part of the conditions of issuing a permit may be the requirement to replant specific vegetation to support a healthy lakefront.

Florida law requires all persons to obtain a permit from FWC prior to controlling, removing or altering aquatic plants in waters of the state

With a permit you can remove invasive plants which will allow room for native plants to grow and expand. This ensures that you have a plan for managing your waterfront that will not harm the water body and help protect the investment you have made in it. The work can be done through physical or mechanical means. Removal by herbicides also requires a permit.

Proper management of the shoreline will also:

  • Enhance aesthetics
  • Improve food and habitat for fish and wildlife
  • Provide erosion control and soil stabilization
  • Ensure plants are present for nutrient uptake which will result in cleaner water

Any lakefront aquatic plant activity that falls outside the above list requires an FWC permit. This
includes creating a sandy beachfront, backfilling soil at the shoreline, etc. Construction of docks
and lakefront structures fall under other permitting requirements.
The homeowner or a contractor working on the homeowner’s behalf is responsible for obtaining the
permit. Once the permit is issued the contractor or homeowner can begin the work. FWC and/or
the EPD should inspect the final result to ensure it meets the requirements specified in the permit.

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2021 Year in Review

November 1, 2021

2021 Year in Review

John Schmidt

     While the year isn’t over and there are many fun days on the lake ahead, this will be the last
newsletter of the year. What a year for the lake, with the impact of Covid, people were drawn to
outdoor activities, and we noticed a significant increase in boat traffic and use of the public boat
ramp. We had some issues with jet ski rental companies, so we worked with the Lake County
Commissioners to stop them. We have not heard of any major injuries on the lake this year.


     We reaffirmed our elected officer’s commitment for the Johns Lake Association Board. We
completed scheduled Board meetings, published three electronic newsletters, and provided a
number of updates on our Facebook page. We decided to improve our Web Page at
Johnslakefloida.com and have just started to make changes to improve your experience. The plan
is to make it easier to navigate, have sections for past newsletters, historical articles, a place for
pictures, change the contact links, and change the way we send out our newsletters.


     The committees we set up had many meetings that included, Invasive Species, Boat Parade,
Outfall, Mission Statement and Marketing/Membership delivered mix results. We worked with the
state on the control of invasive vegetation species, including hydrilla, and provided feedback on the
areas that were being proposed for treatments or left out. The state has not added any grass carp
this year due to shortages from the fish hatcheries, but they are still planning to add carp when
available. The Boat Parade team is planning the event to be bigger and better this year. The
Outfall Study was completed with several recommendations that Orange County, The Town of
Oakland, and Lake County worked out a maintenance funding plan and easement rights which has
yet to be finalized. Oakland has already secured easement rights for the properties in the town that
are being developed. The Marketing and Mission statement work continues.

     We reported the Orange County Lake levels and kept the data in between reports. Orange County
started a yearlong water quality survey and contracted with a third-party company to take monthly
samples and will provide the report when available. We worked with Orange County to nominate a
few larger parcels of land to be placed into the Green Space Purchase Program on the east end of
the lake. This would help connect Tucker Farms and help with our outfall concerns. We will provide
updates when available.

     Overall, the lake is in good shape. The water levels are down some from the past five years
heading into dry season but holding okay. FWC just treated the hydrilla, bass fishing has been
good and crappie fishing has started with water temperatures around 70f. Enjoy the holidays and
be safe on the lake!

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Save the date for the 2021 Johns Lake Holiday Boat Parade

August 15, 2021

Save the date for the 2021 Johns Lake Holiday Boat Parade

John Schmidt

December 12, 2021

Don’t miss the fun this year as we celebrate our 21st annual holiday boat parade!

Last year we had a record forty-four (44) boats participate in the parade and many, many enthusiastic parade watchers along the shores of Johns Lake. It was a great night for all and with your help, we’re ready to make it even bigger and better this year! A big thank you to Tommy’s Florida who was our sponsor for prizes last year! This year we are looking for additional sponsors.  Please contact Karen Quill at kquill@cfl.rr.com if you wish to become a sponsor.

We will publish more details on our website (see below) and Facebook Page (see below). We will include both the parade route as well as how you can register your boat to win prizes. Please keep an eye out for more information coming soon!

Facebook: @johnslakeimprovementassociation

See you on the water!!!

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JLIA and Newsletter Name Change

August 15, 2021

JLIA and Newsletter Name Change

John Schmidt

During the last Board meeting, we discussed the name of our organization and have decided to simplify and shorten the name.  We filed an application with the State of Florida to do business as the “Johns Lake Association” and it was granted on May 4th.  From now on we will use the new name. We also decided to change the name of the newsletter. The Association was originally formed when the lake was so low that it was taken over by cattails.  A board was elected to deal with the cattail problem. This is no longer an issue, so the newsletter is now called the “Johns Lake Association Newsletter.”

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Hydrilla and Carp Control Update 7/21

August 15, 2021

Hydrilla and Carp Control Update 7/21

John Schmidt

     Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) was planning to add five hundred (500) carp to Johns Lake in May 2021, but this has been postponed until Fall since the state fish hatcheries do not have enough large carp at this time.  They typically put carp in the lake every few years. One of the primary purposes of the carp is to assist with controlling hydrilla. 

     There is a delicate balance to maintain with the number of carp in the lake. If the population grows too large, they will eat not only the hydrilla but the important native plants as well, which could negatively impact the ecosystem of the lake. FWC monitors the growth of the hydrilla to determine how many carp to add and what frequency to put them in Johns Lake.  There used to be a barrier between Johns Lake and Black Lake to keep the carp out of those other lakes, but it is no longer in place, which allows the carp to leave Johns Lake. 

      After working with Orange County and FWC we suggested that the best approach would be to add carp to Black and Tilden Lake in addition to Johns Lake to help control their hydrilla and therefore there would not be a need for the barrier.  They agreed to start stocking carp in the other lakes as well and not install a barrier.  Great news!  The next herbicide treatment will be in the Fall since the treatments in the Summer are not as effective as in the cooler months.

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Committees

August 15, 2021

Committees

John Schmidt

At our January Board Meeting, we decided to form a few committees to break up the work and provide engagement by all.  The committees are Invasive Species, Boat Parade, Outfall, Mission Statement, and Marketing/Membership.  Here is a quick summary of each.

Invasive Species – Completed a conference call meeting with our FWC biologist on April 19th.  A lot of good information was shared.  The primary topic was hydrilla and carp. 

Boat Parade – The date was chosen to be December 12.  Additional planning will take place in the third quarter.  Please keep an eye on our website and Facebook page.

Outfall – The study consultants have completed their work and a final copy has been issued.  We are waiting to have a meeting with the County Commissioner and the Town of Oakland to discuss the next steps. 

Mission Statement – The committee came up with four emerging themes to focus on, Communication, Education, Advocacy, and Recreation.  It’s important that we refine the objective and create a clear vision/purpose for the board.

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Lake Level Data 4/21 Update

May 3, 2021

Lake Level Data 4/21 Update

John Schmidt

Here is the latest lake level information; the graph shows the last 16 months thru April of 2021.

No Data Found

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Fishing Update March 2021-Spawning

March 7, 2021

Fishing Update March 2021-Spawning

John Schmidt

Guest Author: Jim Sweatman

In case you are wondering about the health of the fish and the impact of fishing during the spawning season, here is a response from our Fisheries Management Project Leader:

Bass in this area of Florida spawn between December – April the weeks before the full and new moons, versus a distinct narrow spawning window like they have “up north”. Furthermore, fish have a mechanism called “compensational mortality” which means if one nest fails for some reason then another has a higher survival.

Because of these 2 factors, our research has shown no impact of bed fishing or tournament fishing on the spawning or recruitment success of largemouth bass in Florida. Factors that do affect spawning/recruitment are: (1) food available to the young when they hatch and (2) cover available to hide from predators. Reducing nutrients from yard run-off via swales, getting houses along the shorelines hooked up to sewage rather than on septic, allowing for natural fluctuations in a lake based on hydrology rather than flood control, and proper aquatic plant management, are all factors that do impact spawning and recruitment success.

Our latest surveys show the bass population in Johns Lake is doing very well. Our annual report from last year is on our web page if you are interested.

We have not analyzed the data for this year, as we are still collecting it, but the bass fishery looks very good based on what we have so far. See pictures attached taken on January 21st and the 24th.

Sincerely,

Jim Sweatman
Fish Orlando Project Leader/TrophyCatch Assistance
Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management (NE Region)
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
321-231-9593 (m)
jim.sweatman@myfwc.com
myfwc.com/fishorlando

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Other Updates

February 23, 2021

Other Updates

John Schmidt

Lake Levels

Below is the 2020 Johns Lake water level chart.  The 60-year historical average lake level is 92.12 but it has been much higher than that for the past decade. This past year the average was 95.58.  The lake elevation change was similar to normal at about 3.3 feet this year.  These readings are from the “official county survey data collection points”.  Some variation above or below these readings is likely due to when the sample was taken, but overall, not significant. The water temperature got down into the high 50’s during the cold spell which is not unusual.

No Data Found

Outfall Drainage Updates

The study that Orange County and the Town of Oakland initiated is in the final stages.  The consultants conducted a virtual meeting with our Board on November 3rd to go over their findings and the options. We had some questions and concerns about the next steps and there is more work to be done to complete this study. After the study is complete, they will decide on which projects to pursue, where the funding will come from, and how the “ditch or outfall” maintenance will be handled.  Our initial reaction is that the options provided do not appear to provide the results we hoped would handle a 100-year rainfall event.  When this is completed, we will share the study summary and final recommendations.

Hydrilla Update

In the next few weeks, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is planning to treat the southwest corner of the lake and will survey the smaller lake at the northwest corner of the lake near Johns Lake Landing (Clermont) any day now.  They are also planning to stock another 1,000-grass carp in the spring. This type of carp cannot reproduce and prefers to eat hydrilla over other water plants.

When we get an exact date, we will let you know on Facebook @johnslakeimprovementassociation. Due to the recent treatment and the colder water temps, we have noticed the hydrilla is regressing. Please keep in mind this invasive species will never go away with the technology we have today.

Wildlife Activity

Duck Hunting season ended on January 31st and the birds are beginning their annual mating ritual. 

Wood Ducks
Wood Ducks are particularly active now and starting to look for nesting boxes.
Wood Storks
We have been watching Wood Storks (threatened) feeding along the shorelines.
Limkins
We have been watching limkin feeding along the shorelines.
Ospreys
Osprey have been busy building nests.
Bald Eagles
We have even seen some Bald Eagles
Hawks
We have spotted numerous hawks in the past few months as well.
Owls
We have spotted numerous owls in the past few months as well.

Southern American Kestrels

In Johns Cove, we have been fortunate to have a Southeastern American Kestrel hanging around which is the smallest falcon found in the U.S.  It’s a really pretty bird with a brownish back (dorsal) area with black flecking, a white belly (with males having fewer dark speckles on it), and black marks extending from the eyes downward.  The colors of their wings differ by gender, as males have bluish-gray wings while females have brown wings.  It is a non-migratory subspecies of kestrel found in open pine savannahs, sandhills, prairies, and pastures in Florida and the southeastern United States. It is listed as threatened in Florida due to a decline in nesting and foraging habitat.  

Alligators

We are not seeing many Alligators due to the colder air and water temperatures.  Alligators are most active when temperatures are between 82° to 92°F. They stop feeding when the ambient temperature drops below approximately 70° F and they become dormant below 55° F. Alligators are dormant throughout much of the winter season. During this time, they can be found in burrows (or “dens”) that they construct adjacent to an alligator hole or open water, but they occasionally emerge to bask in the sun during spells of warm weather.  So as the temperatures rises expect to see more of them again.

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