With more people comes more lawn fertilizers and septic systems. The state Department of Environmental Protection last month said the amount of phosphorus coming into the lake should be reduced to 154 tons per year in order to begin restoring water quality. The problem is, even with previous efforts to reduce farm runoff, the average has been about 548 tons a year. Most people feel the DEP goal is practically impossible to reach and even if it is, it will still take decades for the lake to clean itself. The corps of engineers agreed to lower the lake level, but did so as Florida entered its worst yearlong drought on record, leaving people in South Florida worried about their water supply.
Fishermen see the drought as a blessing and a curse.
Some boats are having problems getting to the lake's open waters, but the receding shoreline has allowed marsh grass to flourish. The St. Augustine Record and Morris Digital Works . Please read our Privacy Policy. Advertise with us in print or online.