PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED ON KISSIMMEE CHAIN OF LAKES

NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

June 16, 1998

CONTACT: Mike Hulon ((407) 846-5300

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED ON KISSIMMEE CHAIN OF LAKES

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding a public meeting on Wednesday, July 15 at 6 p.m., to discuss a proposed drawdown and habitat enhancement of Lake Tohopekaliga, and a proposal to establish lakes on the Kissimmee Chain as fish management areas (FMAs). The meeting will be held at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

Part 1: Year 2000 Lake Tohopekaliga Drawdown and Habitat Enhancement Project
The first part of the meeting will be an open discussion of the FWC’s proposal to do an extreme drawdown and habitat restoration project on Lake Tohopekaliga in the year 2000. The public is encouraged to participate in the process from the beginning.

"This meeting will be a chance for residents or anyone interested in the proposed restoration project to learn first-hand what we’re proposing to do and why," said Mike Hulon, biological administrator with the FWC’s Kissimmee fisheries field office. "It is also a chance for us to answer concerns from the folks who will be either directly or indirectly affected by the project."

Lake drawdowns are a technique biologists use to improve habitat for fish and wildlife by mimicking what nature does through natural cycles of drought - which allow lake bottoms to dry out and compact allowing for beneficial plant growth - followed by periods of heavy rains that refill the lakes. The natural results include more productive fisheries. Similar results have been achieved through artificial drawdowns, such as the one completed two years ago on Lake Kissimmee.

Part 2: Proposed Fish Management Areas The second half of the meeting will focus on the FWC’s proposal to create fish management areas on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes including lakes Tohopekaliga, Cypress, Hatchineha, Kissimmee, Jackson, Marian and East Lake Tohopekaliga.

Since the early 1970s there have been extensive habitat enhancement activities conducted on the Kissimmee Chain, but the work is never done. Factors such as flood control, exotic aquatic vegetation and pollution continue to affect these lakes.

cement projects continue in order to maintain productive fisheries. However, funding is always tight and priorities have to be established for the limited revenue resources available," said Hulon. "We are proposing that these lakes be made fish management areas so that they will remain high on the priority list when funding issues are raised."

The regulations being proposed for these lakes would include the elimination of the cane pole exemption, as well as other rules that apply to FMAs statewide. In addition, the following special rules are being proposed as follows:

Lakes Tohopekaliga, Cypress, Hatchineha and Kissimmee--Fish traps, lift nets and trotlines will be permitted.
East Lake Tohopekaliga--Trotlines permitted only from sunset Sunday until midnight Friday of each week, and only during the period from sunset each day until 9 a.m., the following morning.
Lake Jackson--Possession of any black crappie less than 12 inches long is prohibited. The use or possession of cast nets, lift nets or minnow seines is prohibited.
Lake Marian--Trotlines are permitted.