Now that the Sunshine State has recouped its universal recognition as "The Bass Capital of the World," the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is working tirelessly to maintain that status.

Since 1992, when members of the fishing community were questioning Florida's freshwater future, the Commission has embarked upon a legion of initiatives aimed at making our waters more "angler friendly," despite limited personnel and historic funding shortfalls.

Lake drawdowns, bottom sediment removals, native vegetative enrichments, noxious aquatic weed reductions, halving daily bag limits on largemouth bass, increasing minimum size requirements, encouraging a catch-and-release ethic, imposing slot limits when needed, plus a host of additional complements have combined to bring a waning Florida fishery from a brink of disaster back to the summit, all in less than one decade.

Unwilling to rest on their laurels, Division of Fisheries Director Ed Moyer and his crack crew of biologists and managers compiled an ambitious roster of projects that were authorized in the 1999 Legislative Session. Now, the only thing needed to get these erstwhile commissioned projects underway and completed is funding approval from the Legislature early next year.

More than 50 Florida water bodies are on the current 2000-2001 agenda, with more to be added in 2002 and beyond. Here's a thumbnail sketch of these lake systems, the work planned and the person to contact for additional information or updates:

Lake Tohopekaliga (Toho) in Osceola County. The Commission is currently involved in aquatic plant control and revegetation projects, and will conduct a massive drawdown and bottom sediment removal program at this 18,800 acre water body in 2001-02. Contact: Marty Mann, (407) 846-5300.

Lake Apopka in Orange County. An immediate plan for this degraded 30,000-acre lake is to implement a large-scale revegetation demonstration that, if successful, will be expanded into a comprehensive effort, dependent upon St. Johns Water Management District funding. Contact: Ed Hayes, (352-742-6438.

Lake Panasoffkee in Sumter County. Depending upon the success of a current restoration project at the Coleman Landing section of this popular 4,460-acre lake, a 4 to 5-year progressive dredging and muck removal program will get underway aimed at a complete lake restoration. Contact: Sam McKinney, (352) 732-1225.

Lake Istokpoga in Highlands County. The Commission hopes to remove at least 60 percent of tussock growth (including island areas) and muck in this 27,480-acre lake during a partial dewatering program scheduled for fiscal year 2002-03. Contact: John Furse, (941) 462-5190.

Commission managed impoundments (70 acres including Karick Pond) in Okaloosa County. This project centers on erosion protection for these water bodies. Contact: Mahmoud Madkour, (850) 488-5531.

Urban Ponds located in Orange and Seminole counties covering about 100,000 acres. Multiple tasks to be conducted including habitat enhancement, access improvements, additional fish feeder placements, clearing shoreline vegetation and muck to provide quality bank fishing access, and replanting desirable aquatic vegetation. Contact: Jim Sweatman, (407) 317-7329.

Lakes Newnan (7,427 acres), Lochloosa (5,705 acres) and Orange (12,706 acres) in Alachua County are scheduled for aquatic vegetation transplants. Muck removal chores are already in progress due to drought and low-water conditions. Commission biologists are also studying the feasibility of future drawdowns. Contact: Robert Hujik, (352) 392-9617.

Deer Point Reservoir in Bay County. In addition to controlling stands of Bacopa at this 5,000-acre site, the Commission is also mapping a drawdown, vegetation controls and improving public access. Contact: Fred Cross, (850) 265-3677.

Ocheesee Pond in Jackson County. This project calls for dam repairs and a drawdown of this 2,200-acre water body. Contact: Michael Hill, (850) 410-2842.

Yates Mill Pond, a 400-acre water body in Washington County. In addition to repairing a dam and surrounding structures, the Commission hopes to conduct a drawdown and initiate a construction program to enhance public access. Contact: Fred Cross, (850) 265-3677.

Huguenot Pond, in Duval County. As part of the Jacksonville Urban Pond Project, biologists hope to dewater this small, 2.5-acre pond, remove 12,000 yards of bottom sediments to deepen the lake, and conduct a revegetation program prior to restocking with catfish and, possibly, other game fish. Contact: Scott Brown, (904) 448-4394.

Lakes Sampson (2,042 acres) and Rowell (364 acres) in Bradford County. Plans call for lake drawdowns with corresponding bottom sediment removals, the construction of a new water control structure, plus improvements aimed at providing better public access. Contact: Jerry Krummrich, (904) 758-0530.

East Lake Tohopekaliga in Osceola County. Evaluate the use of a portable dam and in-lake trackhoe for tussock and muck removal, conditions which have developed since a major 1990 drawdown of this 11,968-acre lake. Contact: Kevin McDaniel, (407) 846-5310.

Watertown Lake in Columbia County. Plan bottom restructuring and bank fishing improvements in this 45-acre water body. Contact: Jerry Krummrich, (904) 758-0530.

Lake Jackson in Osceola County (1,500 acres). Follow-up aquatic plant control activities after the 1996-97 muck and tussock removal program. Partial structure repairs were recently completed. Contact: Mike Hulon, (407) 846-5300.

Lake Marian in Osceola County. Continue tussock removal, cattail control and aquatic plant management activities on this 5,739-acre lake. Contact: Kevin McDaniel, (407) 846-5310.

Lake Parker in Polk County. Coordinate with the City of Lakeland to develop and implement a stormwater treatment plan and conduct aquatic plant community enhancement activities on the lake's 2,000 acres. Contact: Tom Champeau, (863) 648-3202.

Lake Pierce in Polk County (3,729 acres). Suffering from habitat deterioration resulting from stabilized water levels, the Commission plans an all-inclusive program of cattail and tussock removal, followed by a revegetation effort. Contact: John Wikert, (863) 648-3202.

Deer Point Lake in Bay County. Dense shallow water vegetation in this 5,000-acre lake prevents angler access to productive sites. To correct this problem, the Commission will create openings by mowing. Contact: Fred Cross, (850) 265-3677.

Lake Miona in Sumter County. Following completion of a successful revegetation program on this 418-acre lake, a courtesy dock will be installed to facilitate easier angler access and success. Contact: Ed Hayes, (352) 742-6438.

Lake Rowell in Bradford County (364 acres). Currently acquiring permits for a temporary structure that will facilitate a planned pumpdown, muck removal and revegetation program. Contact: Jerry Krummrich, (904) 758-0530.

Lake Munson in Leon County. This 255-acre water body is getting a near complete makeover as funding for its restoration plan includes reconstruction of channelized Lake Henrietta and a wetland/lake settling area for stormwater treatment by recreating natural flow patterns and bottom dredging to remove sediments. Contact: Lothian Ager, (407) 701-3400.

Lake Trafford in Collier County. Depending upon acquiring requisite funding, this 1,494-acre water body will undergo a lakewide dredging, weed removal and revegetation project that will restore this popular fishing hotspot to former glories. Contact: Frank Morello, (561) 625-5127.

Lake Hell'n Blazes (and Sawgrass) in Brevard County. In a cooperative project with state and federal agencies, a hydraulic dredging effort in 788-acre Hell'n Blazes will protect Lake Washington, the immediate downstream lake, from filling with sediments while, at the same time, improving fishing habitat. Contact: David Cox, (407) 752-3115.

Lake Tsala Apopka in Citrus County. The Commission hopes to get more local support for its proposed aquatic plant harvesting, organic sediment removal and hydrological evaluation plan at this 19,111-acre landmark. Contact: Ken Denson, (561) 625-5127.

Alligator Lake Environmental Center in Columbia County. In addition to constructing a small fishing pond, the Commission is working closely with county officials to develop a 0.5-acre facility into an educational/environmental center. Contact: Louis Mantini, (904) 362-1001.

Lakes Victor (140 acres) and Bear (109 acres) in Holmes and Santa Rosa counties. Now that erosion control measures have been completed on lakes Stone and Hurricane, the Commission will move on to providing the same controls for Victor and Bear. Contact: Norman Young, (850) 892-8000.

Alligator Chain of Lakes (8,201 acres) and Lake Gentry (1,791 acres) in Osceola County. Funded primarily by the South Florida Water Management District, the Commission will conduct a major drawdown, create wildlife islands, remove bottom sediments, maintain maintenance of cleaned areas, and provide shoreline restructuring on this six-lake chain. Contact: Chris Michael, (407) 846-5300.

Lake Howard in Polk County. A stormwater retrofit and wetland habitat creation project in cooperation with the City of Winter Haven on this 628-acre lake is currently underway and expected to be completed by December. Contact: Lothian Ager, (407) 701-3400.

Lake Okeechobee in Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry, Palm Beach and Martin counties. Because of habitat deterioration resulting from three successive years of high water levels at this 730-square-mile lake, the Commission will remove cattails from two sites on the northwest shore and revegetate with submersed and emergent plant life. Contact: Don Fox, (863) 462-5190.

Lake Jessup in Seminole County. A five-acre revegetation program has been completed at this 10,011-acre site. Next on Jessup's agenda is a berm removal on a Department of Transportation (DOT) mitigation site. Contact: Ed Hayes, (352) 742-6438.

Lake Iamonia in Leon County. Because a sink hole has opened and a natural drawdown is occurring, the Commission wants to strike while the iron is hot at this 5,757-acre lake and locate/mark all tussocks for possible removal, as well as removing bottom sediments at selected areas. Contact: Michael Hill, (850) 410-2842.

Lakes Cypress (4,097 acres) and Hatchineha (6,665 acres) in Osceola County. Following a tussock removal program, new public access areas were opened and an increase in diversity of desirable rooted aquatic vegetation resulted in increased shoreline fishing opportunities. The Commission will continue vegetation maintenance and management oversight. Contact: Mikel Hulon, (407) 846-5300.

Lake Fox in Brevard County. Currently conducting a geotechnical evaluation on this 165-acre water body in order to obtain necessary permits for a pumpdown which will allow for lake resculpturing, revegetation and access improvement. Contact: Sam McKinney, (352) 732-1225.

Lake Fairview in Orange County. The Commission proposes to remove grass carp in this 404-acre lake, along with conducting additional revegetation initiatives and is evaluating the feasibility of a stormwater retrofit. Contact: Bruce Jaggers, (352) 357-6631.

Lake Kissimmee in Osceola County. Quality habitat produced by a major drawdown and muck removal project conducted on this 34,148-acre lake in 1996 requires annual vegetation maintenance and management efforts to prolong benefits. Contact: Mikel Hulon, (407) 846-5300.

Lake Montgomery in Columbia County (128 acres). Construction of a stormwater treatment facility and increasing bank fishing opportunities are currently awaiting funding approval before work can be started. Contact: Jerry Krummrich, (904) 758-0530.

Lake Walk-In-Water in Polk County. Currently awaiting funding to conduct tussock harvesting, cattail control and a revegetation program on this popular 7,532-acre lake. Contact: Marty Mann, (407) 846-5300.