Project Update:

March 19 2008

The second round of storm drain marker installations was successfully completed Saturday, March 8th. Once again, with the wonderful assistance of the Chiles Marine Biology Club the message of best management as it applies to stormwater is being delivered to our neighborhood. Please, if you have a change to thank these wonderful young people, do take the time to do so, they have donated their time to assist the Clean Lakes Project and our neighborhood should acknowledge these young adults efforts!

The aquatic vegetation planting around Lake Blue Heron is scheduled for the last weekend in March. Take a moment to walk down to the lake and enjoy the fruits of this restoration effort.

One final note is that with the return of the rains, there has been an increase of yard debris, trash and other non-point source pollution sources being swept to our neighborhood lakes. It is critical that each of us takes the responsibility to implement best management practices for our lawns and gardens for the health of our lakes. Take the effort to be environmental stewards for the good of the entire community.

March 2008

The planned winter planting for Lake Blue Heron have been a resounding success.  The establishment of vegetative buffers has begun with the planting of several species of trees around the lake area.  These trees represent native wetland species that will serve to reestablish a natural wetland ecosystem.  150 Bald Cypress, 50 Water Tupelo, 30 Chestnut Oaks, 50 Eastern Red Cedar, 45 flowering Dog Wood and 45 Eastern Red Bud Trees have been planted in and around the lake area.  All these trees have guards to protect them from damage associated beavers.  These guards allow for the establishment of these wetland trees without harming the beavers and the wetland ecosystem.  Spring will bring in the planned planting of the aquatic vegetation.

Fish stocking will also commence in the spring.  Even with the extended drought conditions and the lake draw down for restoration work, many fish fry survived and have reemerged.  This is apparent when one strolls down to the lake and observes all the shoreline actives.  The migratory water fowl have also been enjoying the life returning to the lake.

Additional work will be completed upland and downstream of Lake Blue Heron for stormwater management.  However, it should be noted that at this point in the project, Lake Blue Heron can now be considered a successful model of sustainability for an urban lake for the foreseeable future.

On a final note, the rain events that the area has received during the past few weeks have replenished the Killearn Lakes chain.  Lake Blue Heron is now full.  In addition the Ochlockonee River has crested and the flood waters are replenishing the long dry Lake Iamonia.

Upon a review of over 300 art entries from the children; 6 were ultimately chosen to be manufactured into a plasticated and UV stabilized 4” marker with the children’s design on them.  The requested message to communicate via these markers was to make sure only rainwater will enter these drains to protect our water resources.  Of course, the varied and wild interpretations of the children’s art form spanned the horizons from entertaining to thoughtful to ridiculous to hilarious and each one was unique and thoughtful.  Because of the production process, a minimum of 50 of each design was required to initiate manufacturing.  With 300 markers slated for production, this allowed for only 6 students to be chosen for this project, however as the educational coordinator for the project, I wish I could put one marker from every child on our City and County’s stormwater drains.

These colorful stormwater drain markers are advertised to last over 30 years.  That means these children could be walking by these markers with their children in upcoming years.  The installation of these markers is with a rock hard adhesive.  The Clean Lakes Project is fortunate to have had a wonderful partner for this effort; the Chiles High School Marine Biology Club volunteered to assist with the installation of these markers in the neighborhood.  Through the generous support of these students the installation of the markers has been completed through a large portion of the neighborhood.  As you walk, bike or drive through the Killearn Lakes community take notice of the stormwater drain systems, you just might see one of the markers designed by our children and installed through the efforts of our young adults, all members of our community doing their part to bring environmental stewardship to our neighborhood.

Stormwater Drain Markers:  Made By OUR Children For OUR Neighborhood!

The Clean Lakes Team wants to thank the students of Killearn Lakes Elementary School, Hawks Rise Elementary School and Chiles High School for their contributions in designing and installing Stormwater Drain Markers within your neighborhood.

This forthcoming initiative will effectively place - 300 Stormwater Drain Markers throughout the Killearn Lakes subdivision.  These markers were designed by children from the elementary schools and installed by the volunteer efforts of the High school students.  What a fun and enjoyable project this has been.  We have had over 300 art submissions for this project; our only regret is that we can choose only 6 separate art submission to have manufactured.  The success of this project is directly related to the efforts of our community’s students and the Leon County Schools who have taken the time and initiative to be part of this effort.  It could be your child’s art design that will serve to reminding us of where your stormwater drains.  We want to thank everyone for their enthusiastic contributions and support of this project. 

The Stormwater Drain Markers are intended to remind all of us to help protect our lakes from nonpoint source pollution.  Remember, rainwater picks up trash, yard waste, petroleum waste, and many other harmful substances that flow through our storms drain and into our lakes causing our waters to become polluted.

Enjoy these designs, thank our students and do your part in keeping only rainwater going down our stormwater drains!  The health of our lakes are reflected in this commitment.

Click Here to See All of the Drawings

September 10, 2007
Below are the bathymetric survey results of Lake Blue Herons pre and post sediment removal conditions. From the survey it was found that over 50,000 cubic yards of material were removed from Lake Blue Heron.

Engineering Survey Comparison - Click to view PDF

Lake Blue Heron Pre-dredge Bathymetry (LBH Pre Dredge) Click to Enlarge



Lake Blue Heron Post Dredge Bathymetry (LBH Pst Dredge) Click to Enlarge

August 27, 2007

Work steadily continues on Lake Blue Heron. The sediment that was removed from the lake bottom was relocated at the spoil pile. The spoil pile is being hauled away and is steadily decreasing.

The refilling of the lake is directly linked to our rainfall. According to the National Weather Service, since January Tallahassee is 35% below normal rainfall. Although some parts of Leon County have been seeing the return of summer rainfall patterns, other parts of the county remain very dry. Everyone involved in this project are concerned about the lack of rainfall as we are anticipating the return of our normal weather patterns.

Leon County has approved the tree removal permit. As a result the removal of trees along the lake has been progressing. The tree removal portion of the restoration effort is in an effort to restore appropriate plants around the lake. This process first requires the removal of dead, diseased and inappropriate species of trees from the area. This removal process will be followed by the replacement and planting of tree species that are appropriate for locations around the lake.

July 12, 2007

The major sediment removal and lake sculpturing work for Lake Blue Heron has been completed. Significant rainfall to speed the refilling of the lake will complete this effort. Weeds within the lake have not yet become an issue. The alligator weeds (the tall weeds that took over the lake last summer) have not yet come back but are being monitored. As long as the lake refills adequately, the alligator weed should not come back to pose any significant problem, the situation is being monitored and will be addressed accordingly.

The planting phase of the restoration effort involving the native aquatic plants that will be placed strategically in the lake will begin once the water in the lake reaches satisfactory levels. This task is anticipated to take place in the Fall.

Although the major construction work for the lake is completed, you should expect to see activity around the lake. For instance, the inflow areas that leads to the sump holes still needs to be cleaned and lime rocks placed within these areas. In addition to these, other best management practices such as construction of berms, swales and marshes will begin. All of this work will be performed on the easements or upland areas from the lake. None of this work will take place on private property with the exception of where the golf course has agreed to cooperatively accommodate this restoration effort. This work is not time critical, so it will be accomplished over the next few months and anticipated to be completed by October.

Finally, the Leon County Growth Management Office has signed off on the projects tree removal plan and issued the associated permit. Once the identified trees are removed, due to their poor health or inappropriate location (upland trees in wetland locations) then replanting of suitable trees will occur.

Lake Blue Heron is ready for refilling. The contractor performing the lake bed work has done a wonderful job. During sediment removal and lake bed restoration a large amount of sediment was able to be removed from the center areas of the lake and the planned catch basins were able to be expanded. The edges have been contoured and sloped along with the weeds being plowed over and through. There will still be additional tree removal and road work leading to the lake, however at this point Lake Blue Heron is ready to be refilled.

If you have been by the restoration site you might have notices some brush piles in the lake bed. These piles are being placed in the lake to provide habitat and cover for the fish population. These brush piles provide structure and cover around which fish orient themselves. These fish attractors concentrate fish by providing cover, structure, spawning habitat and serve as attachment surfaces for many organisms that fish feed on.

Environmental Stewardship is for ALL in our Community