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Citrus County approves $45,000 partnership with FWC for lake tussock harvesting; board agrees to encumber lake-restoration funds
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved a $45,000 contribution to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) lake restoration project to harvest floating tussocks in the Hernando pool of the Apopka chain; board also voted to encumber remaining county lake-restoration funds for future cooperative projects.
Citrus County commissioners voted to partner with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to remove floating tussocks from a lake in the Hernando pool of the Apopka chain, approving a $45,000 county contribution to a project led by FWC biologists.
The county will contribute up to $45,000 to allow Citrus County Aquatics to harvest about three acres of floating tussock at the site while FWC will fund the aquatic-harvesting contractor for 10 acres using its $150,000 allocation from state general revenue. The board also agreed to encumber balances in two county lake-restoration accounts so the funds can be used on future cooperative projects with FWC.
Anna Laws, a biologist with FWC's Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Restoration section, told commissioners the agency plans to remove about 10 acres of floating tussock at one location in the northeast corner of the lake; FWC’s average cost in the South Apopka Range is roughly $15,000 per acre. Laws said the tussocks reduce light penetration, reduce dissolved oxygen and uproot rooted vegetation, degrading fish and wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.
Carlton Hall of Citrus County Public Works introduced Laws and said the county has roughly $304,920 in a lake-restoration fund plus $132,735 in an account funded by fishing-license revenue that can be used for projects that improve fish habitat.
Commissioners asked about the scope of the work and future needs. Laws and Dan Kolterman, her supervisor, said the system is dynamic: tussock coverage can grow quickly, some islands move, and managers plan to use adaptive management — harvest a portion, monitor ecological response, and return if more work is needed. Public commenter Bob Rudemiller urged including removal of soft bottom sediment (muck/detritus) in the scope, arguing that deeper sediment removal improves fish spawning habitat.
Commissioner Jeff Kennard moved the county contribution and the encumbrance of the county lake-restoration funds; Commissioner Holly Davis seconded. The motion passed 4–1. Commissioner Janet Barrick said she supported the initial $45,000 but opposed encumbering the remaining county funds without annual oversight and asked FWC to return yearly with a report on work performed and additional needs.
FWC officials said they intend to continue identifying priority sites across the Apopka chain and hope to partner with the county on future projects. County staff will coordinate project details and contracting for the county’s share.
Votes at a glance - Motion to contribute $45,000 and encumber county lake-restoration balances for ongoing partnership with FWC: mover — Commissioner Jeff Kennard; second — Commissioner Holly Davis; outcome — approved 4–1.
Why it matters: The project aims to restore fish and wildlife habitat and improve recreational access by removing floating vegetation and associated muck that reduce oxygen and light penetration, but commissioners pressed for monitoring and annual accountability before committing more county funds.
What's next: FWC and county aquatics will schedule harvesting work; staff will report back with project monitoring results and requests for any additional county funds.
