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Juno Beach council approves mechanical removal and maintenance plan for Pelican Lake algae
Summary
The council authorized up to $8,000 from contingency for mechanical removal of algae in Pelican Lake and directed staff to create a calendared maintenance plan; any chemical treatments must be approved by council in advance.
The Juno Beach Town Council voted unanimously Sept. 27 to authorize mechanical removal of nuisance algae in Pelican Lake up to $8,000 and to require a council-approved maintenance plan for any chemical follow-up.
Staff presented background on the lake’s vegetation and past control efforts. Steve summarized mechanical and chemical options and cost estimates: skimming had cost about $2,000 in prior work, a full mechanical removal estimate was about $8,000, and a peroxide-based chemical product (marketed as Green Clean) had a quote of $8,560 from a vendor; staff cautioned against returning to glyphosate or copper-based products because of ecological and long-term-sediment concerns.
Steve told the council the algae types in Pelican Lake vary (chara, marine naiad, hydrilla) and that different plants respond to different treatments; he recommended a cautious approach and suggested starting with mechanical removal and then considering smaller, targeted chemical treatments if necessary. He said mechanical removal “went down to the roots” for cattails in prior work and gave the town “more bang for its buck” in some cases because chemicals can leave phosphates that encourage regrowth if not monitored.
Council members and residents weighed risks and benefits. Some urged mechanical removal first, noting the ecological benefits of retaining native plant and fish habitat; others recommended a hybrid model that uses mechanical removal followed by limited chemical treatment to prevent near-term regrowth into the dry months. Council members asked staff to define success metrics and a calendar for routine maintenance.
Council Member Diana moved to approve timely, ongoing algae maintenance with immediate mechanical removal not to exceed $8,000 from contingency and to create a calendared maintenance plan; the motion specified that any chemicals used for treatment must be approved by council prior to use. The motion was seconded and passed on a unanimous roll call.
Staff will schedule the mechanical removal and return with a maintenance calendar, water-quality testing plans (to monitor phosphate spikes after treatment) and recommended chemicals for council approval before any application.
