Up and coming events:

Membership Fees Due January 1, 2008

Board of Directors Meetings January, March, May, July, September and November - 2nd Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm at the Ag Center

In the news

Tourist Tax Fund Needs Projects
By Dick Reaney

The Tourist Tax collections are building. Ten percent of the Tourist Tax money's collected are earmarked for spending on lake related projects. So far, only a few projects have benefited from the funds. The Highlands County Lakes Association has been given the task of gathering projects to be presented for funding by the Tourist Tax. The Projects committee meets monthly to discuss and develop projects for funding, but they need help in the way of input of new ideas. We need active, concerned citizens to come forth with ideas on how to improve, beautify, or restore one or more of our County's lakes. The Projects Committee will help to see if an idea fits or can be modified to fit the requirements for the lake spending set forth in the Tourist Tax Act.

Tourist Tax Project Request Form

Clell's Corner

The TMDL Program – What Is It - Lee Flocke

We need Lakewatch volunteers for the following lakes:

In Avon Park - Angelo, Anoka, Brentwood, Byrd,Chilton, Counterfeit, Damon, Deer, Duck, Isis, Lelia, Olivia,  Pioneer, Pythias, Silver, Trout, Tulane, Verona & Viola

In Lake Placid - Apthorpe,Crews, Hill, Huntley, McCoy,  Mirror, Nellie, Persimmon, Rachard, Ruth, Saddlebags,  and Simons

In Sebring - Blue, Fox, Granada, Little Bonnett, Jackson, MaryJane & Wolf

MANY NEW LAKEWATCH VOLUNTEERS
WE STILL NEED MORE

The Lakewatch Program was founded seventeen years ago and is administered by the University of Florida.
Samples are taken from the lakes each month by volunteers and those are analyzed by the University of Florida. The data is entered for future use and is available on their web site.
The samples are tested for phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorophyll, and the depth and clarity is noted using a secchi disc. The data is valuable in determining any problems the lake may have or indication of possible future problems, along with what corrective actions should be taken.
The lakes listed to the left are available and need volunteers. The training is done by the Lakewatch staff and all equipment is furnished. A boat is necessary in that the samples are not taken from the shoreline. Anyone interested, or if you have any questions, please contact John Ruggiero at (863) 465-7855 or Clell Ford, Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District (863) 402-6545

Idle Zone
By
Dick Reaney