SoWalSally
02-19-2006, 07:55 AM
I hope everyone feels it is imperative to keep the lakes clean and safe for future generations. If you've always wanted to help preserve SoWal you couldn't find a better cause. The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance works with the County's Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board to monitor the lakes and implement safeguards.
Volunteer / Join - http://www.basinalliance.org
From Walton Sun
Developments around and near coastal dune lakes affect them good or bad.
Two weeks ago Walton County issued a stop work order on Lakeside at Blue Mountain Beach because of water run-off polluting a tributary to Big Red Fish Lake.
An Outstanding Florida Water designation would provide extra water quality protection for the dune lakes, said Eric Shaw, of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
“If you’re a large landowner on an OFW and you have direct storm water discharge into the lake we can’t deny the permit (to build), but we can require that you treat 50 percent of storm water before it is discharged,” Shaw said.
The developer will most likely have to foot the bill for the extra treatment that could lead to opposition to OFW designation.
When Powell Lake came up for OFW consideration a landowner on the lake, along with Bay County, opposed the designation. Shaw suggested it was from the additional costs related to storm water treatment, he said
OFW status isn’t granted over night. The process could take over a year, as was the case with Lake Powell, Shaw said.
After FDEP receives a petition they have to set up a public workshop, which is advertised for 60 days in local papers. Letters are also sent to state legislators in the area and local governments. FDEP takes public comments for and against OFW designation. More workshops might be necessary, Shaw said.
After all workshops and public comments are considered the Environmental Regulation Commission makes the final decision.
A blanked petition for all the coastal dune lakes can be used instead of each one coming up for consideration.
There are close to 300 bodies of water designated OFW and 90 percent are in state or federal lands, Shaw said.
Volunteer / Join - http://www.basinalliance.org
From Walton Sun
Developments around and near coastal dune lakes affect them good or bad.
Two weeks ago Walton County issued a stop work order on Lakeside at Blue Mountain Beach because of water run-off polluting a tributary to Big Red Fish Lake.
An Outstanding Florida Water designation would provide extra water quality protection for the dune lakes, said Eric Shaw, of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
“If you’re a large landowner on an OFW and you have direct storm water discharge into the lake we can’t deny the permit (to build), but we can require that you treat 50 percent of storm water before it is discharged,” Shaw said.
The developer will most likely have to foot the bill for the extra treatment that could lead to opposition to OFW designation.
When Powell Lake came up for OFW consideration a landowner on the lake, along with Bay County, opposed the designation. Shaw suggested it was from the additional costs related to storm water treatment, he said
OFW status isn’t granted over night. The process could take over a year, as was the case with Lake Powell, Shaw said.
After FDEP receives a petition they have to set up a public workshop, which is advertised for 60 days in local papers. Letters are also sent to state legislators in the area and local governments. FDEP takes public comments for and against OFW designation. More workshops might be necessary, Shaw said.
After all workshops and public comments are considered the Environmental Regulation Commission makes the final decision.
A blanked petition for all the coastal dune lakes can be used instead of each one coming up for consideration.
There are close to 300 bodies of water designated OFW and 90 percent are in state or federal lands, Shaw said.