state of the lakes report

The City Of Maitland
Public Works Department
Stormwater and Lakes Management Division
STATE OF THE LAKES REPORT
2006-2009
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Table of Contents
1.
Introduction……………………………………………………..
1.1 Purpose of Report
1.2 Maitland Lakes and Hydrology
2.
Lakes Management Program……………………………...
2.1 Stormwater Lake Management Plan
2.2 Water Quality
2.3 Interlocal Management Plans
2.4 Stormwater Management
2.5 Aquatic Plant Management
2.6 Restoration Projects
2.7 Environmental Stormwater Utility
3.
Waterfront Structure and Vegetation Permitting…..
3.1 Waterfront Structure Ordinance
3.2 Lakefront Protection Ordinance
4.
Education
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
5.
Conclusion ………………………………………………………….
and Community Projects………………….....
Incentive Programs
Public Service Announcements
Articles and Publications
Public Involvement and Education
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Introduction
1.1
Purpose of Report
This annual report, prepared by the City of Maitland’s Stormwater and Lakes Management
Division covers the Lakes Management programs and Capital Improvement Projects (CIP)
implemented during Fiscal Year 2006/2007, 2008/2009, and 2009/2010 to meet the City's longterm lake water quality goals and objectives.
The report provides an overview of the state of the lakes including lake restoration projects,
drainage improvements, lake water quality, aquatic weed control and Lake education/incentive
programs, in agreement with the City’s Stormwater/Lakes Management Plan (SLMP) update in
2006.
1.2
Maitland’s Lakes and Hydrology
The City of Maitland has approximately 800 acres of waterways
including lakes and streams within its boundaries. At this time
the Stormwater and Lakes Management Division currently
manages all or part of 22 lakes and 4 canal systems. Lakes are
an important asset to the residents of the City. Since 1993, the
City staff and many special and dedicated volunteers have
worked hard to protect our valuable water resources.
The City has a program to permit waterfront structures, such as
boat docks, sea walls, and boat ramps and strongly encourages
the replanting and maintenance of lakeshore vegetation. City
staff work with the community creating education and
community service programs to help maintain the lakes and
parks in good health.
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Canal between Lake Nina and Minnehaha
Over the years lakes management has been a huge undertaking to analyze and retrofit
stormwater outfalls in order to maintain the watershed of each lake within the City. The following
is a list of all lakes within our jurisdiction, several of which are not wholly within the City limits
but share boarders with the City of Winter Park, the Town of Eatonville, City of Altamonte
Springs, Unincorporated Orange County, and Unincorporated Seminole County.
Lake
Acreage
Lake
Acreage
Lake Catherine
23 Lake Loch Lomond
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Lake Charity
56 Lake Love
4
Lake Destiny
36 Lake Lovely
31
Lake Eulalia
6 Lake Lucien
53
33 Lake Maitland
443
Lake Faith
Lake Gem
8 Lake Minnehaha
95
Lake Harvest
10 Lake Nina
12
Lake Hope
31 Lake Shadow
75
Lake Hungerford
16 Lake Sybelia
80
Lake Jackson
22 Lake Waumpi
12
Lake Lily
5 Park Lake
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Lakes Management Program
2.1
Stormwater Lake Management Plan (SLMP)
The City of Maitland adopted the first Stormwater
Lake Management Plan (SLMP) in 1996 and has
been successful in utilizing this plan to direct the
actions of City staff, the Lakes Advisory Board,
and the City Council. In 2006 the City received an
updated SLMP with an interactive community
education information disk, along with an analysis
and a survey of the latest technology and
engineering fixes for stormwater management and
lakes protection from Mactec Consulting. The
proposed projects were prioritized by a costbenefit analysis for the most effective pollutant
removal with the least amount of cost.
Fragrant Water Lily
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The Original SLMP plan that was developed in 1996 was focused upon arresting the degradation
of the City’s lakes and decreasing phosphorous loading from stormwater runoff. This version, as
adopted by the Maitland City Council in November 1996, was a ten-year plan with an investment
of over 10 million dollars. From 1997 to 2003 the original SLMP was successful in implementing
31 stormwater treatment and drainage improvements that benefited the local community and
water quality.
The SLMP has been an essential element in complying with the requirements of the Federal
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) and aided in obtaining grants
and funding, at state and federal levels, for lake projects included in the City’s Capital
Improvement Plan. Presently and in the years to come, the SLMP will be a key tool in meeting
the challenges of the stormwater pollutant load reduction goals imposed by Total Maximum Daily
Loads on local and downstream water bodies.
2.2
Water Quality
Stormwater management systems are designed to remove pollutants from the stormwater runoff
before they can be deposited into our lakes. Different Best Management Practices (BMPs) are
designed to remove different types of pollutants, such as dissolved nutrients, oil and grease, leaf
litter, or solid garbage and floatables. Florida has been the leader in stormwater management
practices for many years, and the City of Maitland has also been ahead of its time with the
establishment and implementation of our award winning Stormwater Lake Management Plan.
Surface water quality has been monitored
in the City’s lakes since 1994. Maitland
monitors for a variety of different
parameters such as nutrient levels,
bacteria, and physical characteristics such
as temperature. Water chemistry is one of
the key factors that is used to establish a
plan for future lakes management projects.
The City contracts a private laboratory to
conduct monthly sampling, which provides
all of our water quality data. Each lake has
its own chemical make up and lakes are
ranked by calculating a Trophic State Index
(TSI). This calculation is a measure of the
degree of productivity in the water column and
Ducks on the Chain of Lakes
is useful to determine water quality trends over
time. High TSI values signify that a lake is more productive and translate to lower water quality.
According to the State of Florida, TSI values below 60 represent good water quality while values
from 61 to 70 represent fair water quality, and values higher than 70 represent poor water
quality. It should be noted that these values apply strictly to water quality and do not give a
complete picture of a water body’s productivity because they do not incorporate macrophyte
presence and density.
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The following charts are a comparison of Trophic State Index (TSI) when water quality sampling
began 1994 until 2008. These graphs illustrate the water quality change over time for all water
bodies within the City.
As part of the SLMP revision in 2006, Lake Eulalia
was reported to have a deteriorating water
quality trend and Lakes Maitland and Minnehaha
were reported to have improving water quality
trends. According to the following graphs, Lake
Eulalia’s water quality has since improved,
though these results are not yet statistically
significant. Lake Maitland has also continued an
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improving water quality trend attesting to the positive impact that continued stormwater
treatment projects have had upon the Winter Park/ Maitland Chain of Lakes. Lake Minnehaha’s
trend has decreased since the SLMP report, however water quality has recently been affected by
a significant hydrilla population in the water body and subsequent release of nutrients posttreatment.
Though no water bodies within the City showed a statistically significant water quality trend,
Lakes Lily and Nina have presented the most marked improvement over the past 14 years. They
have both progressed from almost to eutrophic to solidly oligotrophic water bodies. These
changes can be attributed to multiple projects that have been installed by the City, including a
CDS unit, Baffle Box, and Gabion Basket at Lake Lily and an extensive dry retention pond at Jim
Houser Park.
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Catherine
Charity
Destiny
Eulalia
Faith
Gem
Harvest
Hope
Hungerford
Jackson
Lily
Loch Lomond
Love
Lucien
Maitland
Minnehaha
Nina
Park
Shadow
Sybelia
Waumpi
2.3
2006 SLMP Trophic State
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Oligotrophic
Eutrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Mesotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Mesotrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
N/A
2008 Trophic State
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Eutrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Mesotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Eutrophic
Trend
Stable
Stable
Stable
Improving
Stable
Improving
Stable
Stable
Deteriorating
Deterioration
Improving
Deteriorating
Deteriorating
Stable
Stable
Deteriorating
Improving
Stable
Stable
Stable
N/A
Interlocal Management Plans
During the past couple years the City of Maitland has been working in cooperation with over a
dozen local entities to develop the Lake Jesup Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP). This
workgroup is spearheaded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and is
designed to include representatives responsible for water quality management within each
surface water drainage basin of Lake Jesup. The group’s goal and purpose is to establish a
fifteen-year management plan which reduces phosphorous and nitrogen loading to the Lake with
the intention of meeting the FDEP assigned Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The Lake Jesup
Technical Advisory Committee has been meeting on a monthly basis to discuss phosphorous
reduction allocations for each entity and incorporate existing and planned stormwater
management projects that apply for mitigation credit. Currently the group is in the process of
finalizing all project data and approving the draft workplan. The Lake Jesup BMAP is anticipated
to be adopted in summer 2009.
A kickoff meeting for the Wekiva River BMAP occurred March 6, 2009 and included a multitude of
representatives from state, City, County, public, and private agencies. Unlike the Lake Jesup
BMAP, this management plan will be developed based upon groundwater impacts from the
River’s watershed, instead of surface water flow and drainage basins. It will also not be
developed with formal meetings by a Technical Advisory Committee, but instead will be solely
constructed utilizing pre-existing data and decisions/recommendations from the BMAP’s Basin
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Working Group. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is striving to finalize this
plan within two years, but data collection and research is still in its infancy.
2.4
Stormwater Management
Street sweeping and street drain cleaning are two of the most pro-active tools utilized by the City
to prevent the pollution of our surface waters. The street sweeper traverses all city-maintained
streets every two weeks, and logs over 4,500 curb miles per year. An average of 2,500 cubic
yards of trash, leaves, grass clippings, and other gross pollutants are removed from our
roadways on an annual basis. An average of 40 street drains are also inspected each month and
approximately 160 cubic yards of sediment were removed by hand or vactor truck per quarter in
2008.
Throughout the past two years the Stormwater and Lakes Management Division has constructed
a variety of City-wide projects with the goal of improving surface water quality in our lakes and
streams. With cooperation from local developers and the aid of state cost share grants, we have
begun to make a solid impact upon stormwater quality in a variety of drainage basins.
The Chippewa Trail Baffle Box project included the installation of a nutrient separating
baffle box and the stabilization of Lake
of the Woods Creek in the vicinity of
the adjacent outfall during the fall of
2007 for a total cost of $80,000. It
was constructed with the intention of
reducing errant erosion in this section
of the creek and removing sediments
and leaf litter from stormwater inflow
to prevent sedimentation and nutrient
loading downstream. Nutrient
separating baffle boxes are unique
because they suspend leaf litter and
other organic debris above the water
level of the structure’s sump, hindering
Chippewa Trail Baffle Box
nutrient leaching and preventing
downstream water quality impacts. This feature allows City staff to clean the unit and
remove the maximum amount of debris possible before it has the opportunity to
negatively affect Lake of the Woods Creek and its downstream flow into Lake Minnehaha.
The multi-million dollar Sybelia
Parkway Regional Retention pond
was constructed from 2006-2007
near the corner of George Avenue
and Sybelia Parkway to treat
stormwater flow along the 17-92
corridor before its flow into Lake
Minnehaha. It is a 3.49 acre pond
that is preceded by two CDS
(Continuous Deflective Separation)
units installed to remove floatables,
debris, and particulate matter from
Sybelia Parkway Regional Retention Pond
Outflow into Minnehaha Road Canal
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stormwater inflow. The pond was constructed to direct stormwater through the adjacent
natural wetland before it exits through a series of drainage structures and flows into Lake
Minnehaha. It was completed as part of a large scale construction project that included
the creation of Sybelia Parkway and installation of a new sanitary lift station. Partial
funding for this project was acquired through grants from the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Transportation, and St. Johns River
Water Management District.
The Audubon Way CDS (Continuous Deflective
System) Unit was installed in the winter of 2008 to
treat an existing storm line that drained 74 acres of
residential and commercial property outside of the
City’s boundaries. It is a subterranean structure
that filters floatables, solids, and associated
nutrients prior to the connected pipe’s discharge
into Lake Sybelia. Historically, a chain link leaf trap
was responsible for catching solid pollutants, but
this structure proved ineffective and floating trash
frequently washed onto adjacent shorelines. The
Audubon Way CDS Unit is currently being
monitored for the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP) to determine the
device’s effectiveness and removal rate. A full
report will be submitted to FDEP in June of 2009.
CDS Unit prior to installation
As part of the developer’s agreement
for the Village at Lake Lily, a Nutrient
Separating Baffle Box and Gabion
Basket were installed to treat
stormwater drainage from the 17-92
corridor and The Village property itself.
This project was enacted to ensure that
new residential and commercial
development would not negatively
impact the water quality of Lake Lily.
As a treatment train, these structures
will aid in the removal of nutrients,
floatables, suspended solids, and other
pollutants from inflowing stormwater. The
Lake Lily Gabion Basket
gabion basket structure is also designed to
slightly raise the pH of Lake Lily, aiding in the
decomposition and biological breakdown of muck and organic debris within the sediment
of the water body. It was also constructed to be slightly elevated above the surface of
the water, drawing public attention to an educational sign that explains the devices
function and purpose.
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2.5
Aquatic Plant Management
One of the key responsibilities of the Stormwater and
Lakes Management Division is to manage the presence
of exotic aquatic species throughout the City’s surface
waters. Though this duty is accomplished through a
variety of different activities, the most important and
widespread of these is the chemical control of the
submersed species hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata). The
majority of lakes within the City are either currently or
recently managed to control this plant, and they will
continue to be for years to come. There currently
exists no environmentally safe product that can
completely eradicate hydrilla, therefore aquatic
herbicides must be used to manage this species at the lowest
level possible. The following information is a treatment
history for lakes within the City that have recently undergone
management for hydrilla.
Hydrilla in Lake Minnehaha
Lake Minnehaha was historically managed using the aquatic herbicide Sonar ( Fluridone) to
control hydrilla biomass, tuber, and root crown growth. This product was very affective in
achieving long term control, and as a result
was used in back to back treatments for
many years. However in April of 2007 it
was discovered that, like so many lakes
throughout Florida, hydrilla in Lake
Minnehaha had developed a resistance to
Fluridone. Vegetative coverage across the
water body became so dense that
navigation was impossible throughout
more than 75% of Lake Minnehaha.
An emergency effort to reduce existing
hydrilla biomass was developed with
cooperation from the FFWCC and the City
of Winter Park resulting in a treatment
using the contact herbicide Aquathol K
(Endothall) on August 14, 2007. This
Hydrilla in Lake Minnehaha, July 2007
treatment proved to be far more effective
than anticipated, and navigation was
restored throughout Lake Minnehaha within a couple months. However a considerable amount
of nutrients were released during this treatment, and significant algal blooms were seen in the
spring and summer of 2008. Though a second treatment was anticipated for the spring of 2008,
a full lake Aquathol K treatment was not necessary until March 2, 2009. Lake Minnehaha is
currently being monitored and further Aquathol K and Aquathol Super K block treatments are
expected in June of 2009.
Due to Fluridone resistance levels, all other water bodies on the Maitland/ Winter Park Chain of
lakes are also now managed with the contact herbicide Aquathol K or Aquathol Super K
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(Endothall). This method has proven to be effective for most water bodies, however throughout
2008-2009 Lake Maitland has had a significant population of hydrilla growth to contend with.
On-going Aquathol K treatments were conducted during the winter-spring of 2009 and further
spot treatments may be necessary during the summer months to ensure that navigation is
maintained.
In the summer of 2008, with cooperation from the City of
Winter Park, Maitland was able to stock Triploid Grass Carp
in almost every water body on the Winter Park/Maitland
Chain of Lakes, with the exception of Lake Nina.
Authorized through a permit from the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission, approximately ½ fish
per surface acre was stocked to control the growth of
hydrilla in Lake Minnehaha and Lake Maitland. Triploid
Grass Carp have a specific preference to consume this
species and will generally select it over all other submersed
aquatics. They are also genetically modified to be
incapable of reproduction, which ensures their population does
not exceed the desired stocking rate and become a detriment
to native submersed aquatics.
Triploid Grass Carp being
stocked in Lake Minnehaha
Beginning in July of 2009, the Winter Park/ Maitland Chain of Lakes will officially be part of the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Funded Program. This inclusion will entitle
the Chain to one hundred percent funding for all herbicides, man hours, and equipment hours
that are utilized to manage hydrilla, water hyacinth, and any permitted species that inhibit
navigation. Not only will this project assist with pre-existing management strategies, but it will
also make available experimental or recently approved herbicides such as Galleon ( Penoxsulam)
and Clearcast (Imazamox) that neither Maitland nor Winter Park could afford with existing
budgets.
On July 24, 2008 Lakes Park and Gem were stocked
with Triploid Grass Carp at a rate of 1 fish per
surface acre. Since stocking, multiple contact
herbicide treatments have been necessary in both
water bodies to reduce hydrilla coverage, and an
additional fish per surface acre will be installed in
the summer of 2009.
Lakes Hope and Faith were stocked with Triploid
Grass Carp at a rate of two fish per surface acre in
February of 2008 to control both hydrilla and the
submersed aquatic species southern naiad (Najas
guadalupensis). Though southern naiad is a native
species, it became particularly invasive in Lake Hope
Triploid Grass Carp being stocked in
Park Lake
to the point that navigation was inhibiting and
circulation was decreasing throughout the water
body. Stocking rates in both of these lakes have proven to be very effective, and no further
chemical management has been necessary for either target species since stocking occurred.
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2.6
Restoration Projects
In the spring of 2009, the Lake Charity Vegetation Removal Project was enacted to extract an
overgrowth of nuisance and exotic vegetation from the northern lobe of Lake Charity. With the
use of an aquatic harvester, approximately 1.4 acres of vegetation were removed, opening
navigable access and restoring the historic aesthetic of the water body. Dependant upon water
elevation, the City will continue to spray this portion of the lobe indefinitely to maintain access
and hydrologic circulation.
Lake Charity Before
Lake Charity After
As part of our City-wide lake restoration efforts, residents on Lake Waumpi were recently offered
the opportunity to restore their shorelines by removing existing exotic/nuisance vegetation and
replacing it with native species. Twelve residents chose to participate in the project which was
funded by Orange County Municipal Service Tax Unit (MSTU) monies remaining since Dommerich
Hills was annexed into the City of Maitland in 2002.
The Orange County Environmental
Protection Division’s (OCEPD)
contractor Aquatic Weed Control, Inc.
was hired for a total sum of $21,000
to remove all existing exotic
vegetation from participating
lakefronts beginning October 6, 2008,
revegetate with native species of the
resident’s choice, and conduct
monthly maintenance spraying of
each lot for five months after
revegetation occurred. The
contractor was also able to restore
lakefront access to two properties
whose shorelines were completely
overwhelmed and inaccessible due to
2400 Tuscarora trail prior to vegetation
removal
an overgrowth of species such as primrose
willow, burhead bulrush, and torpedo grass.
Replanted native species have since thrived
and all participating shorelines are not only aesthetically improved, but also provide more diverse
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and accessible habitat to the native organisms of Lake Waumpi. As of April 2009, individual
shoreline maintenance responsibility has now returned to each individual property owner.
2.7
Environmental Stormwater Utility
On September 8, 2008 Maitland City Council approved the City-wide establishment of an
Environmental Stormwater Utility to partially fund the Stormwater and Lakes Management
Division. The City has now joined over one hundred municipalities in the state of Florida that
have adopted a stormwater utility to improve their drainage and surface water quality. The
plausibility of this project was discussed for many years by City staff and the Lakes Advisory
Board, but its initiation was not approved until the fall of 2007. After almost one year of research
and development a finalized ordinance was established to begin billing in October 2008.
This Environmental Stormwater Utility is generated by charging parcels a fee for the amount of
stormwater their property generates based upon square impervious footage. Every property is
charged a specific number of Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs) at a rate of $7.25 per ERU with
1 ERU being equivalent to 2,532 square feet of impervious surface. Residential parcels are
divided into three fee structure categories: Small (1 to 2,166 sq. feet) with a rate of .7 ERU,
Medium (2,167 to 2,994 sq. feet) with a rate of 1 ERU, and Large (2,995 to 4,499 sq. feet) with a
rate of 1.4 ERU. Condos are charged a rate of 1 ERU to incorporate private roadways, common
areas, etc… All residential properties larger than 4,499 sq. feet and any other developed
property within the City is considered to be a General Parcel and is charged by dividing the exact
impervious square footage by 2,532 sq. feet.
Due to the adoption of the new Environmental Stormwater Utility, funding has been made
available for increased Capital Improvement Projects to improve surface water quality. The
2010-2014 draft CIP includes water quality improvement projects for the following water bodies:
Lake Sybelia, Lake Catherine, Lake Eulalia, Lake Minnehaha, Lake Maitland, Lake Gem, Park Lake,
and Lake Nina. The Stormwater and Lakes Management Division was also authorized to hire a
second Environmental Technician, whose assistance has been greatly beneficial in many day to
day activities such as storm structure inspection and cleaning, project management, and small
scale herbicide treatments.
Ridgewood Neighborhood
The Stormwater and Lakes Management
Division has currently gone out to bid for the
Lake Maitland Basin Drainage Improvement
project, a plan which provides stormwater
drainage and treatment for sections of the
Ridgewood neighborhood including Tangerine
Place, Ridgewood Avenue, and Alpine Drive.
This system is anticipated to remove
approximately 4 lbs. of total phosphorous, 17
lbs. of total nitrogen, and 423 lbs. of
suspended solids per year. The City was
recently awarded a cost share grant for
$549,000 from the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection to construct and monitor this
project to determine its effectiveness.
Though the existing rate of $7.25 per ERU is incredibly beneficial, it does not cover one hundred
percent of the operating, capital improvement, and administrative costs of the Stormwater and
Lakes Management Division. It is estimated that $12.00 per ERU would be necessary to
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generate the approximate 1.7 million dollars that is needed to fund all expenses of the Division
with an aggressive project implementation schedule. The ERU rate must be officially approved
by City Council every budget cycle, and future changes will be necessary to accommodate
increased operating and capital improvement costs.
Waterfront Structure and Vegetation Permitting
3.1
Waterfront Structure Ordinance
For more than nine years, the Stormwater and Lakes Management Division, in cooperation with
the Lakes Advisory Board, has been in the process of updating the City’s Waterfront Structure
Ordinance. The document has recently been approved by the City’s Planning and Zoning
Commission and is anticipated to be brought before the City Council in the summer of 2009.
Revisions to parameters such as terminal platform size, seawall construction, and shoreline
vegetation requirements have been instituted to update the existing code and improve
enforcement capability.
3.2
Shoreline Protection Ordinance
In cooperation with the Lakes Advisory Board, the Shoreline Protection Ordinance has also been
drafted and will soon also be under review by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City
Council in the summer of 2009. This document has been constructed to establish a City-wide
permitting program for the maintenance of aquatic vegetation to supplement the existing Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Vegetation Removal Permit. It will not only give the
Stormwater and Lakes Management Division enforcement capability, but will also promote
shoreline revegetation of native aquatics to improve water quality, shoreline stabilization, erosion
control, and a variety of other positive ecological benefits.
Education and Community Projects
4.1
Incentive Programs
In an effort to assist the City’s residents with lakeshore protection, incentive programs were
designed to promote healthy private waterfronts. This program was started in 1997, and has
expanded over the years. There are three different incentives residents may apply for based
upon budget availability.
1. Wetland Tree (Cypress) Shoreline Vegetation Program, since 1997- purchase of up to
3 trees (8 to 10 ft. tall) for $25.00 each.
2. Shoreline revegetation Up to $250 or 50% of the cost, whichever is less to clear and
revegetate a homeowner’s shoreline.
3. Lakefront swale program for $500 or 20% of the cost, whichever is less. To grade and
sod a new swale in the homeowner’s yard.
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4.2
Public Service Announcements
Beginning March of 2009 the City of Maitland joined with a
number of local governmental entities such as Seminole County,
Orange County, and Lake County to jointly air public service
announcements (PSAs) on WESH 2. These PSAs publicize the
core concepts of Florida Yards and Neighbors to educate Central
Florida residents regarding water conservation, fertilizer usage,
Florida friendly landscaping, and a variety of other Best
Management Practices that benefit the local environment.
Funding for this project has been proposed in the 2010
operation budget as part of an annual effort to educate our local
citizens through an easily accessible and frequently viewed
outlet. Over 1,500,000 viewers in Central Florida are being
exposed to these PSAs on a monthly basis.
4.3
Articles and Publications
Over the past four years, City staff has contributed a number of
educational and informative articles to a variety of local
Limpkin at Lake Lily Park on a
floating turbidity curtain
publications. Frequent submissions regarding stormwater
pollution prevention and aquatic vegetation maintenance have
been published in the tri-annual Friends of Maitland Waterways Newsletter and the biannual Lake
News for Winter Park Waterways.
During the development of the Environmental Stormwater Utility, a brochure entitled
“Environmental Stormwater Utility, What is it and how will it benefit me?” was sent to each
resident within the City to outline the implementation and impact of a functional stormwater
utility. Further articles were published in the Maitland monthly, Maitland Magazine, Rotary
Bulletin, City website, Friends of Maitland Waterways, Winter Park Waterways, and through a
local press release. These methods in combination with right of way signage and alternating
message boards were used to inform all members of the community prior to the approval of our
now adopted Environmental Stormwater Utility.
Marissa Rodriguez, the City’s Stormwater and Lakes Management Coordinator, was recently seen
on WKMG Local 6 describing existing water elevations in the Winter Park/ Maitland Chain of
Lakes and their impact upon boaters.
4.4
Public Involvement and Education
On June 7th of 2008 Shell Point neighborhood
residents, with assistance from City staff,
conducted a cleanup of Shell Point Canal to improve
the appearance and navigability of their waterway.
The volunteers were successful in removing over
fifteen bags of garbage and dead vegetation from
the canal. All residents involved were also given an
aquatic plant identification guide for species
commonly found in Shell Point, and were taught the
basic techniques needed to distinguish between
native and exotic species. In total almost a dozen
Waterfront resident removing
vegetation from Shell Point Canal
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canal-front citizens attended and assisted with the clean up.
On March 27th, 2008 staff from the Stormwater and Lakes Management Division assisted the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection with an aquatic plant identification workshop
sponsored by the Florida Association of Benthologists. This day long class gave a hands-on
review and description of all submersed, emergent, and floating aquatic vegetation found in
Central Florida.
As part of the American Seed Trade Association Conference, City staff assisted the Winter Park
Scenic Boat Tour with an educational tour of the Winter Park/ Maitland Chain of Lakes on June
23, 2008. An interactive presentation was given regarding native and exotic species of
vegetation present and current management techniques that both Maitland and Winter Park were
utilizing to preserve ecological sustainability.
Stormwater and Lakes Management frequently joins with the City’s Arbor Division in support of
Maitland’s arbor daily. On an annual basis, educational pamphlets and incentive program
applications are provided to local residents that attend, along with access to trained staff that are
present to answer resident questions and make informed recommendations.
Conclusion
Over the past four years a wide variety of projects and improvements have been enacted Citywide by the Stormwater and Lakes Management Division to benefit our lakes and streams. We
have overcome numerous obstacles and look forward to the challenges ahead. It will take the
combined commitment of many individuals, an aggressive education program, and the continued
support of the Environmental Stormwater Utility to protect and improve our valued surface water
quality.
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