January 2015 Funds Solicitation

January 21, 2015

 

 

 

RE:  Stocking additional fish in Lake Iola

 

 

Dear Lake Iola Property Owner,

 

You may or may not be aware, the hydrilla grass in Lake Iola started to reappear across the lake along with another weed called Southern Niad. This is mostly due to the rise in lake water providing perfect growing conditions for the weeds to multiply.

 

Mr. Eddie Flicker, one of our owners, has taken the initiative to have FWC representatives come back out and inspect the lake and make recommendations for the control of the weeds. I have attached a copy of the FWC Biologist John Kunzer”s recommendation e-mail to Eddie Flicker below.

 

They have authorized the stocking of an additional 100 Triploid Grass Carp.  These fish can be added to our original permit – we do not need to re-apply.  We have only $85.00 left in the bank account and will need to ask for more money at this time. Please understand that as time passes more fish will need to be added to the lake to keep control of the weeds. These future needs should be small as long as we maintain control of the weeds. If left unchecked the weeds will grow out of control and cover the entire lake once again costing us much more money to gain control of the weeds.

 

Mr. Flicker and I are requesting that each property owner contribute $150 toward this effort.  There are approximately 48 owners.  If everyone contributed, that would generate $7200.00.  Mr. Flicker has gotten estimates in the neighborhood of $2000 for 100 fish in the 12 to 14 inch range.

 

Please send a check as soon as possible for $150 made out to Lake Iola Property Owners, care of Vicky Johnson at 31448 Reed Rd.  Dade City, FL  33523.   Vicky will track all contributing owners and accumulate the funds in our property owners’ account at San Ann Credit.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 352 585 2671 or send email to dans444@gmail.com.

 

It would also be helpful if you would send us your email address.  It’s a lot easier and less expensive to communicate that way.  And FYI, we have a blog, http://lakeiolapropertyowners.blogspot.com/, where communication is posted as well.   If you have pictures or anything else you want to share with neighbors, send it to me and I’ll post it.    

 

Thank you.

Your neighbor,

Dan Johnson

FWC Correspondence

The following is the email sent from FWC Biologist John Kunzer to Eddie Flicker regarding re stocking grass carp in our lake.

Hi Eddie,

Thank you for your hospitality in helping me tour Lake Iola this past Monday, especially in the foul weather.We sampled at five points on the lake: Off your dock, near shore in the western cove, just off the northern shore by the old boat ramp, at the eastern edge near the drainage work being done, and at a shallow point in the middle between deeper pools. The only place we did not find hydrilla was in the middle. The hydrilla concentration we found was not high, but it presence is still concerning.As you described in our last visit, the water level in Lake Iola increased quickly and dramatically (by more than a foot) toward the end of the summer. Southern naiad subsequently colonized this area that had previously been dry riparian area. I suspect that the grass carp (TGC) had been foraging on the hydrilla prior to the naiad population boom, and this increase in naiad diffused and distracted the TGC foraging, thereby allowing the hydrilla to expand. The hydrilla probably also expanded into the new areas made available by the rise in lake level, even further reducing the effectiveness of the TGC.

 Also, some respectably large black bass have been caught in the lake recently, raising the possibility that they could have been preying on some of the newly stocked TGC you released last year. My recommendation is to apply for

stocking of another 100 fish, of the largest size you can get. Try stocking 50 fish first, and see what kind of control they provide. If the control they provide is still insufficient, then stock the remaining 50 fish.I’d rather approach this conservatively, while still moving quickly enough to keep the hydrilla from expanding further.

 Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

John