Water Quality Projects Approved by Orange County BOC

Thanks to the spearheading efforts of Orange County District 1 Commissioner Scott Boyd, the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved funding for several key projects focusing on improving the water quality for Lakes Floy, Odell and Cane.

Long-term build up of nutrients and sediments associated with storm water runoff, fertilizers and other urbanization impacts have resulted in continual decline in the water quality of this three-lake system. These projects will focus on the removal/treatment of these accumulated nutrients as well as the reduction of current phosphorus and nitrogen loadings into the lakes. Improvement efforts will begin in the fall of 2011, starting with the lakes in the beginning of the system, Lake Floy, and working downstream to Lake Cane in the summer of 2012.

The projects identified for each lake are as follows:

• Lake Floy Nutrient Inactivation: This project will chemically treat the lake sediments with liquid alum to chemically bind the phosphorus from recycling. This will prevent phosphorus from continuing to feed the algae blooms and will improve the water quality.
• Odell Spoil Island Removal: This project will target the nutrient rich sediment spoil island that has accumulated in front of a storm water outfall pipe. This material will be removed and properly disposed of off-site. This will increase water depth and improve circulation, increase water retention/storage and remove of a significant quantity of nutrients from the lake system.
• Odell Nutrient Inactivation: This project will treat the remaining lake sediments with liquid Alum to chemically bind the phosphorus. This will prevent phosphorus from continuing to feed the algae blooms and will improve the water quality.
• Odell Aeration System: This project will install a water aeration system to prevent stagnant water conditions in this small sinkhole lake and prevent the ongoing low oxygen conditions that have produced foul odors and periodic fish kills.
• Cane Nutrient Inactivation: This project will treat sediments in key areas around the lake with liquid alum to chemically bind the phosphorus. This will reduce the internal recycling of phosphorus that has produced long-term algae blooms in this lake.
• Watershed Educational Program: This will be an educational program focusing on identifying and reducing the human and residential impacts within the watershed area. This will include newsletters and training programs.

Although the total cost for these projects is estimated to be $250,000, periodic maintenance and proactive efforts will be needed to help maintain these lakes in a healthy state. The residents in the watershed understand this need and have initiated steps to form a Lake Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) for the generation of a dedicated funding source.