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Lake County updates trails, blueways and water‑education programs; officials flag new interactive maps and outreach for 2025
Summary
Gallus Quigley and Wendy Poe presented on trails and blueways (now 11 state-designated blueways), updated interactive maps and brochures, and an expanded 2025 water-education outreach program including paddling adventures, Healthy Shorelines workshops and a new recreational water-quality map on the Water Atlas.
Two presentations at the Lake County Water Authority’s November meeting described recreational and education programs that link trails, blueways and public outreach.
Gallus Quigley, recreation coordinator for trails with the Lake County Office of Parks and Trails, gave an overview of the county’s trails and blueways. He said the county’s first trails master plan was adopted in 2008 and updated in 2018, that the physical map was updated in 2022, and that the county now has an interactive map. Quigley said Lake County currently has 11 blueway trails (up from the eight he reported when first joining the county) and pointed to potential new trail connections on Water Authority properties such as Borley (Venetian Veil in Leesburg), Flat Island (Lake Ridge Trail), Sable Bluff (Lake Yellie Loop), Scrub Point (Heartwood Marsh Trail) and others. He also described a planned second viewing tower at Green Mountain Scenic Overlook described in the presentation as more than 60 feet taller than the existing tower and said the project has a matching grant with the Federal Highway Administration (the presentation showed the figure "$80.20" as the grant amount; the recording of that numeric value was unclear).
Wendy Poe, director of water resources, reviewed the authority’s water-education calendar and outreach activities for 2024 and plans for 2025. Poe highlighted guides and curriculums being reorganized (paddling adventures moved into a water exploration guide), a new recreational water-quality interactive map posted on the Water Atlas (hosted by the University of South Florida Water Institute), and a suite of programs including Water Wednesdays, guided paddling adventures, Healthy Shorelines workshops and a new checklist feature spotlighting dragonflies. She said the authority hosted more than 105 events in 2024 and is offering multi-module series of programs for audiences ranging from pre-K to retirees.
Trustees praised the outreach, asked about algal-bloom reporting and DEP verification; staff said DEP verifies algae testing and the health department provides alerts and that the Water Atlas shows recreational water-quality monitoring locations.
Ending: Staff will continue outreach and map updates and work to include the authority in community education calendars for 2025.
