N. Cook
01-31-2008, 10:54 AM
The meeting in Ft. Myers had some interesting moments.
Firet up was Dr. Terrell Nell, Chair: Enviro. Horticultural Dept. IFAS, U of F.
His presentation on the "Statewide Fertilizer Task Force Rule" was very enthusiastic for the new rule, and I believe he wants to see improvement....but after his presentation I asked the question the state does not want to hear: "How many bags of fertilizer now being sold by Home Depot full of phosporous content will have to be removed from sale by the new rule?"
He was not happy to hear the answer is ZERO....The committee was not happy either and a majority stated they would prefer a better rule.
Dr. Nell was aware of John's work on our project to get a new review of the proposed rule and to consider the Minnesota law banning all but traces of phosporous in fertilizers.
The Lake O committee spends a lot of time trying to devise ways to reduce or eliminate phosporous coming into the Kiss. and other feeders into the lake...the proposed rule is mostly "public education" and not very helpful. Considering we are spending billions of dollars to clean phosporous out of the systems water, you would expect a stronger effort to keep it out in the first place!
Lake Okeechobee itself is improving in health, more vegetation, less pollutant with the low stage and a lot of muck removal and other work is being done. Fires, however, have been restricted again after the I 4 accident...and burning that needs to be done probably will not happen unless we get a fortunate lightning strike.....
The problem with muck removal is that it costs $10,000 per acre!!!! Hopefully the trial of just turning the muck under the sand with a disc will work! All of this is on a small scale versus the size of the lake, but it all helps.
The depth of the lake and weather forecasts indicate the lake will be very low going into the wet season...80% chance between 7.8 and 11.2.
That means 10% chance below 7.8 or above 11.2.
A record...only 60% of the lake inside the dike has water.
The "water supply" folks continue to cry for relief, and pray for rain.
Even with a normal wet season this summer the lake will be very low going into next duck season...11. 5 to 13 feet or so....
Airboats could remain the duck hunting transportation again....However, one or two "good" rain events north of the lake can change everything in one week....
Lots of technical stuff is discussed at these meetings and I will be glad to add other info if you will give me a call....561/339/0243
Firet up was Dr. Terrell Nell, Chair: Enviro. Horticultural Dept. IFAS, U of F.
His presentation on the "Statewide Fertilizer Task Force Rule" was very enthusiastic for the new rule, and I believe he wants to see improvement....but after his presentation I asked the question the state does not want to hear: "How many bags of fertilizer now being sold by Home Depot full of phosporous content will have to be removed from sale by the new rule?"
He was not happy to hear the answer is ZERO....The committee was not happy either and a majority stated they would prefer a better rule.
Dr. Nell was aware of John's work on our project to get a new review of the proposed rule and to consider the Minnesota law banning all but traces of phosporous in fertilizers.
The Lake O committee spends a lot of time trying to devise ways to reduce or eliminate phosporous coming into the Kiss. and other feeders into the lake...the proposed rule is mostly "public education" and not very helpful. Considering we are spending billions of dollars to clean phosporous out of the systems water, you would expect a stronger effort to keep it out in the first place!
Lake Okeechobee itself is improving in health, more vegetation, less pollutant with the low stage and a lot of muck removal and other work is being done. Fires, however, have been restricted again after the I 4 accident...and burning that needs to be done probably will not happen unless we get a fortunate lightning strike.....
The problem with muck removal is that it costs $10,000 per acre!!!! Hopefully the trial of just turning the muck under the sand with a disc will work! All of this is on a small scale versus the size of the lake, but it all helps.
The depth of the lake and weather forecasts indicate the lake will be very low going into the wet season...80% chance between 7.8 and 11.2.
That means 10% chance below 7.8 or above 11.2.
A record...only 60% of the lake inside the dike has water.
The "water supply" folks continue to cry for relief, and pray for rain.
Even with a normal wet season this summer the lake will be very low going into next duck season...11. 5 to 13 feet or so....
Airboats could remain the duck hunting transportation again....However, one or two "good" rain events north of the lake can change everything in one week....
Lots of technical stuff is discussed at these meetings and I will be glad to add other info if you will give me a call....561/339/0243