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STATE OF THE LAKES REPORT MAY 2003  SLMP GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FY 2002/2003 I. Water Quality Improves After the Return of the Rainy Season. The City of Maitland municipal boundary contains 22 named bodies of water that lie within two major drainage basins. In 1994 a lake monitoring program for 19 City lakes was instituted in which water quality analysis was performed by TestAmerica Inc. The City has continued to collect monthly data on each City lake since 1994 as an ongoing lake monitoring program. The number of lakes sampled has increased due to recent annexations. Lakes naturally fluctuate in water chemistry and quality between seasons, and from year to year. Differences in factors such as water temperature, sunlight intensity and rainfall patterns are responsible for most of the fluctuations. The lake water quality analysis conducted in Fiscal Year 2002 indicated that the overall Trophic State Index (TSI) improved dramatically for most of the lakes, perhaps as a result of the last drought that allowed the oxidation of the shoreline and consolidation of the muck, and the return of the rainy season that replenished the lakes. The rainy season (from June to December) increased the exchange of water in the Maitland Chain of Lakes, which improved the dilution of microscopic algae and the steady decline in the concentration of algae (Chlorophyll-a), nitrogen and phosphorous in the Maitland Chain of Lakes. Ninety percent of the lakes showed an improvement in their TSI. Lake Maitland achieved the best TSI in the past 10 years, but is still of concern in terms of the eutrophication or nutrient enrichment trend over the years. Lake Gem continued a "Fair" water quality rating during FY 2002 with a TSI value of 62.9 (Graph No. 1). Lake Charity, Lake Eulalia, and Lake Harvest did not show a significant change, and Lake Gem decreased in quality, perhaps due to the influx of storm water pollutants during the rainy season.  The majority of the City's lakes (76%) are nutrient balanced, so reductions in phosphorous or nitrogen should reduce the overall nutrient enrichment. Phosphorous limited lakes comprised 23.8% of the lakes sampled, and there are no nitrogen-limited lakes. Long term monitoring data is required to identify changes in water quality over time. The trend in water quality over the last nine years (1994 -2002) indicates that lakes: Gem, Lovely, Lily, Minnehaha, Nina and Maitland are of concern due to their average TSI greater than 50. The water quality trends (regression analysis) indicated that Lake Lily, Lake Gem, and Park Lake have maintained a water quality between "Average and Fair" over the last nine years, and are impacting the water quality of Lake Maitland. The lake water quality database helps the City predict the trophic state of the lakes, identify lakes with potential water quality problems, and it demonstrates the impact or effectiveness of the SLMP. II. Urban Wetland Helps Educational Program at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. The Audubon Society's Center for Birds of Prey (CBOP) at Lake Sybelia completed the renovation of the facility called "Project Wingspread" and conducted a ribbon-cutting re-opening ceremony on Saturday, February 16, 2002. The renovation and expansions will allow the CBOP to educate many more visitors each year on birds of prey and to handle the increasing number of birds of prey that need rehabilitation.   Planting of the Wetland Area at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey The City of Maitland dedicated one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) towards the development and construction of the urban wetland associated with the Center for Birds of Prey renovation. This funding was approved in Fiscal Year 1997 by City Council as one of the City's SLMP capital improvement projects. Between 1999 and 2002, the City of Maitland funded the installation of a stormwater filter (CDS unit), the relocation of an outfall pipe, and the construction of an urban wetland area to treat the stormwater runoff that used to bring trash, leaves and sediments directly into Lake Sybelia. Between February and May 2002, Tierra Verde Consulting, Inc. planted 1,366 beneficial aquatic plants along the urban wetland and the new gazebo at the lake, as part of the preparations for the opening of the center's educational program. The newly vegetated wetland will attract birds, benefit the water quality of the lake, and enhance the aquatic habitat. One of the main functions of this urban wetland will be to filter the stormwater pollutants coming from the 14-acre sub-basin that presently discharges directly into Lake Sybelia. III. Lake Nina Retention Project Blends a Stormwater Treatment Area with an Existing Park The stormwater improvements for Lake Nina include the construction of a shallow dry retention area to treat the stormwater runoff into Lake Nina from the DelRoy Park and Oakleigh subdivisions. City Council approved the engineering design of the off-line retention area on November 25, 2002 and the contract was awarded to "Central Florida Environmental Inc." on February 24, 2003. The plan includes the construction of a dry retention area and the upgrading of 3.1 acres at the Covered Bridge Park with the addition of a swale in lieu of the existing concrete flume at the Covered Bridge, buffer areas, lake irrigation, pedestrian paths, pedestrian level lighting, street pavers, entrance features and the piping of stormwater from the Oakleigh entrance into the new retention area.   Construction of the Lake Nina Retention Area and a swale near the Covered Bridge with the use of a Geoweb The project is an excellent opportunity for a partnership to upgrade the entrance into the community and arrest the degradation of Lake Nina. The project is funded by $350,000 in the Stormwater/Lakes Capital Improvement Plan, and a total of $189,000 in grant monies from the Florida Legislators and the St. Johns River Water Management District. The preservation of Lake Nina will help maintain current property values, as well as providing an improved water and land habitat for the existing wildlife. IV. Maitland Partners with residents for the Dredging of the Long Branch Canal. Seven Brothers Shoreline Restoration Inc. completed the dredging of the Long Branch Canal on March 11, 2003, as part of a partnership project between the City and 12 Maitland canal front homeowners. The $19,400 canal dredging project included the removal of 6,000 cubic ft of muck (approx. 1 - 3 feet of organic material) and the recycling of sediments into 4' - 6' diameter geotex or (geofilter) tubes along the banks, with the purpose of creating a berm to control the stormwater pollution (i.e. run off of yard chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides) into the Maitland Chain of Lakes. The dredging project restored the water depth to the original 4.5 ft. depth of the Long Branch Canal during its construction in the early 1940's. The hydraulic dredging / recycling of sediments into geotex tubes resulted in a capital savings of $30,000, as compared to the cost of dredging the canal with an excavator.
The areas immediately landward of the geotex tubes were backfilled with topsoil and landscaped with approximately 5,280 square ft of St. Augustine grass on April 15, 2003. The geotex tubes allowed the restoration and stabilization of the banks, arresting erosion and flooding problems. V. Lake Sybelia Point Park Shoreline Improvements. The 4.9-acre Lake Sybelia Point Park, dedicated to the City in 1992, is located on the southwest shoreline of Lake Sybelia. The park has access from Lake Sybelia Drive and offers residents a beautiful, serene park area to enjoy and utilize all year long. The City of Maitland received a $50,000 grant in September 2002 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection - Recreation Assistance Program, for the upgrade of the landscaping and recreational facilities of Lake Sybelia Point Park. The presence of a large number of invasive trees along the shores of Lake Sybelia Point Park prompted the development of a landscape plan which includes shade trees, additional wetland planting, and restoration of the view of the lake. Some exotic trees like Brazilian Pepper and Chinese Tallow disrupted the native ecosystem at Sybelia Park by crowding out the native trees, destroying native food and wildlife shelter, as well as fostering erosion, due to shallow root systems.  Shoreline Planting conducted at Lake Sybelia Point Park in September 2002 The Lakes Division coordinated a shoreline restoration project with the help of the City Arborist and the Grounds Maintenance Division. Approximately 45 invasive Brazilian Pepper and Chinese Tallow trees were removed from the shoreline and waterfront area. Over 50 wetland trees (Bald Cypress, Red Maples, Sweet gum, Dahoon Holly, and Magnolias) 1,000 ground cover plants (four different types of grasses and shrubs) and 500 beneficial aquatic species were planted to improve the quality of the lake. The restored shoreline at Lake Sybelia Point Park will attract birds, benefit the lake water quality, and enhance the wetland habitat. VI. City of Maitland Conducts Successful "Second Environmental Day" at Lake Lily Park The second Environmental Day organized by the Lakes Management Division, in conjunction with Ms. Lynn Mederos, science teacher from Maitland Middle School, was a complete success. Sixty-five students (6th graders) and 25 parents participated in the environmental day conducted at Lake Lily Park on Thursday, May 9, 2002. The event included 30-minute segments on lake ecology/stormwater pollution, lake water quality analysis, water conservation (WaterDown program), the Audubon Society's "Bird's of Prey" educational program, and the planting of beneficial aquatic plants Lake Lily.
2nd Annual Environmental Day at Lake Lily Park in May 2002 The event provided an excellent opportunity to educate the younger generation on environmental conservation and stormwater pollution prevention. The Lakes Management Division conducted "hands on" water quality exercises to illustrate the effect of pollutants and nutrients on aquatic plants and fish, and the role of lake quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, and nitrogen by products (ammonia and nitrates). Lucee Price, Maitland's previous Lakes Management Coordinator, made a presentation on lake ecology along with two volunteers from the St. Johns River Water Management District (Volusia County), who brought an enviroscape and a stormwater pollution model. The Community Relation Coordinator gave a presentation on water conservation, utilizing a water conservation model. The Audubon Center for Bird's of Prey (CBOP) brought a Bald Eagle and birds of prey such as owls, ospreys and falcons for an interactive display and also presented the CBOP rehabilitation and habitat conservation program. VII. Maitland Lake Conservation Program A major component of the SLMP is the public incentive program. The City realizes that the key ingredient to improving the water quality of our lakes is resident awareness and education through cost-share incentive programs, available to all homeowners in Maitland. The cost-share programs offered for lakefront and non-lakefront homeowners include:
The Shoreline Revegetation Incentive Program has been received well by lakefront homeowners during past years. During Fiscal Year 2002, over one hundred Bald Cypress trees and eight hundred beneficial aquatic plants were planted along lake shorelines within the City of Maitland. The City has been working with residents to promote the construction of swales and berms to detain stormwater runoff pollution. Developers have added over 1,400 linear feet of environmental swales along new waterfront residences, in compliance with City Ordinances. Street sweeping, and street drain cleaning, are two of the most effective tools utilized to prevent the pollution of the lakes. The street sweeper covers the City every two weeks, and logs over 4,112 miles per year. An average of 800 to 1,000 cubic yards of trash, leaves, grass clippings, and other gross pollutants were removed per quarter from the streets in Fiscal Year 2002. An average of 40 street drains were inspected every month, and approximately 160 cubic yards of sediment were removed each quarter, with the use of the City's Vactor truck.   Street Sweeping Prevents Lake Pollution   Maintenance of Maitland's Stormwater System Prevents Lake Pollution   Waterway Maintenance Allows Access to the Lakes The Lakes Division, as a part of the "Water Down Program", offered a free rain sensor to property owners along the lakes and canals utilizing surface water for irrigation purposes. This program was implemented as a means of eliminating the over watering of turf and landscape and to help with the recovery trend of the lakes. The "Water Down Program" was expanded to accelerate the restoration of the water levels in the lakes with small water collection areas. This program will accelerate the restoration of lake levels by minimizing water withdrawals for irrigation. Sixty drain markers with the legend "No Dumping, Drains to Lake" were installed in the newly annexed "Dommerich Hills" and "Maitland Summit" neighborhoods. The drain markers help residents, lawn care company staff, and those passing by to be more aware of the fact that the final destination of anything blown or poured into the streets is Maitland's lakes. A total of nine articles on lakes management, stormwater, and lake water quality issues were published in The Florida Specifier, Friends of Maitland Waterways, Maitland Magazine, and the Central Florida Lakes Management Society Newsletter. The current "Boating Practices Booklet" was updated, in collaboration with the Lakes Advisory Board. The revised "Boating Practices Booklet" includes boating regulations adopted in the City of Maitland Code, new regulations adopted by the City of Winter Park during the past year, a map of the Chain of Lakes, and a list of local and State permitting contacts. Two presentations on lakes restoration were given during the quarterly meetings of the Central Florida Lakes Management Society and Orange County TV (Channel 9) on December 7, 2002 and February 20, 2003. As part of the SLMP School Curriculum program, presentations on lake conservation were given at Lake Sybelia Elementary School, Maitland Middle School, and Partin Elementary School (Seminole County). VII. Retention Pond at New Public Works Yard Will Treat Stormwater Runoff for Lake Shadow As part of the West-Side Fire Station and Public Works Facility, a 2.5 acre wet retention pond is being constructed to treat stormwater runoff currently discharging into Lake Shadow. Stormwater from the twenty on-site acres, plus five additional acres from Keller Road and Fennell Street will be treated. The wet retention pond will be completed along with the West-Side Fire Station and Public Works Facility by December 2003.  Wet Retention Pond Under Construction as Part of the West-Side Fire Station and Public Works Facility SUMMARY Since the adoption of the lakes Advisory Committee in 1968, the City of Maitland has been working on the conservation of its lakes. In November 1966, the current SLMP was adopted by City Council. The SLMP is a ten-year plan, with a proposed investment of over 10 million dollars. Its purpose is to arrest phosphorous loadings in the lakes. The SLMP has been used as a guide for the past six years (FY 1997-2002) to implement BMP stormwater treatments and drainage improvements. The SLMP has been an essential element in complying with the requirements of the Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit and in obtaining funding for the Capital Improvement Plan at state and federal levels. In the years to come, the SLMP will be a key tool in meeting the challenges of the stormwater pollutant load reduction goals imposed in the Total Maximum Daily Load Permit. |
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