BY JENN SAMSEL
Special to the Monitor
If you grew up in Keystone Heights in the 1950s, 60s, or 70s, you would remember how high Lake Geneva was. It was Boater Central, and people from all over would flock to Keystone Heights.
Today, Lake Geneva looks entirely different. Little Lake Geneva is separated from Lake Geneva, the boat ramp is inaccessible, and Nelson’s Point has become a nature park, but soon, Lake Geneva will look like it once did: one giant lake.
At the Save Our Lakes meeting at the First Baptist Church on Tuesday, September 10th, Vivian Katz-James, the group’s president, gave an update on the Geneva Project. The endeavor focuses on removing trees in the lakebed.
Trees in lakebed of Geneva
Florida has been experiencing an active rainy season. As the water continues to rise, the trees in Lake Geneva will fall, causing hazardous problems for boaters and kayakers.
Katz-James said, “Myself, along with County Commissioner Betsy Condon, met with Senator Jennifer Bradley, Representative Bobby Payne, the director of the Water Management District, and the assistant director, who was in contact with (the Florida Department of Environmental Protection) to obtain the permit needed and have the state approve the tree removal process,” she said, “There is progress being made.”
The state is responsible for the trees. Save Our Lakes is looking to have about 30 acres of trees removed from Lake Geneva, which would include Little Lake Geneva on S.R. 100, across from the B.P. Station and County Road 214, Nelson’s Point, and another section of Lake Geneva.
Katz-James said, “The Water Management District is very optimistic that we might have something back from F.D.E.P. in a couple of weeks.”
Scott Slater, a Save Our Lakes board member, said that once approved by the state environmental agency, his group would contract with Heritage Timber. This company harvests biomass and, in return, sells it to Gainesville Regional Utilities.
G.R.U. owns and operates the 102.5-megawatt Deerhaven Renewable Generating Station biomass facility.
It’s important to note that the tree removal process will be conducted with the utmost care for the environment. The project team will ensure that the natural habitat is preserved and that removing trees does not disrupt the local ecosystem. The project could take up to two weeks to be completed.
While the city and the county are in the process of working with DEP, it’s important to note that the public can only remove trees on their properties if they have received a permit from the county or city.
Some residents have mixed reactions to the Geneva Project. They worry about the cost, the environmental effects, and losing their privacy.
Katz-James went on to say, “Before anything gets done, the community will have an opportunity to hear more about the tree removal process.”
She added that she is working on having DEP and Fish and Wildlife officials at the November or January Save Our Lakes meetings to speak with the community.
Lake Geneva has always been a public lake for boaters, but over the decades, the lake receded. Mother nature took charge, growing trees and enclosing boaters’ access. Once the trees are cleared, the lake will again be open to the public.
Black Creek project 70% complete
The Black Creek Pipeline project is making significant strides. By January 2025, water should start flowing into Lake Brooklyn.
Katz-James said, “The Black Creek intake pump station is 98% complete, and the pipeline is 90% complete, with only about another two miles to go. The treatment plant is 45% complete, and despite some delays in materials, the first flows into Lake Brooklyn is expected in January. Overall, the project is 70% complete, and we’re ahead of schedule.”
Lake Brooklyn’s water level is 110.9 ft, and Lake Geneva’s is 94.3 feet. The increase in water levels is not from the pipeline; it is primarily due to all the significant rainfall in Florida in the past month or so. Hurricane Debbie was a large contributor to the rise in water levels, and it’s important to note that this is a temporary situation and not a result of the pipeline project.
Fishing Pier
Keystone Beach will soon have a brand-new fishing pier.
Slater estimated the cost of the structure at Keystone Beach at around $200,000. He is looking to reduce the price by reducing labor and material expenses.
“We have approximately $100,000 committed to the fishing pier and will be working on obtaining additional funding over the next few months,” he said.
Slater also mentioned that the new pier will be A.D.A. compliant and have sitting areas, providing a more enjoyable and accessible fishing experience for the community.
“To give you an idea, this is a 150-foot fixed dock and 40-foot gangway,” he said. “The city has given us our blessing to proceed, and so the next stage is to draft a final design that now goes to F.D.E.P., which has to sign off on that permit.”
The project is expected to start in 2025.
Save Our Lakes will host a Black Creek Water Resource Development Project celebration at Camp Immokalee on October 25 from 3 to 7 p.m. There will be food, music, fun, and more. Lake Region Kiwanis will cook the food.
