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mm of
W 01 Utter We
Presented at the
Public aring on til leceuity
for e
Water Conservation District
in the
Little Everglade- me in Lake County
39pm? 9. 1959
It the
up county com noun
raven-n, Florid-
me Deput-entofwnurhemmemudeebriermuotm Little
awn-3m.- me much included en on-eiu inspection of the entire me, the
neer of water levels or neural wells, and the interviewing of property
owner: of the area to obtain the hietoricni hunky-mind. muiled We
Iquotthemeuenotevuleble, buteirphotoendtheeoilewotn
me were studied.
The me known as Little hauled" counts of an series of 101! mu
deynndyhme. Worthlovmuoeentobeconnectedby
metres, am a. m W1, cannula lend locked. liner! rm
WWW-commumlovmumdnmoelmlytom
out, eventually getting into Little Luke Harris. he (luv in new by
he; M or mention. mm; periods of less than none]. nun-m, the
veto:- level in these low mu recedee; and during period- ot mm, pm-
tiuuy the entire me been" dry em to plov. Min; pal-ind: or main:-
then nor-e1 rainfall such as in 1959, lnrae ereee ere covered vitb e ebollov
depth of voter.
Over the you-e, {we have assisted the astute). drum, web on it
m, by spot clean out; until et the preeent tine, e cbennel extende u
the one in the vicinity of Country Store et 315W 2? to Little Luke Kerrie.
here ere check dent in the role): of the chennel metre- i'rul Little Luke
Emu, and other obstruction: in the for: of rand eulverte extend through-
out the entire length. lbe cleen out by individual ownere during the lest
tevyeerlbubeendonebydnsline. SancleenoutmdonebyMlebor
been in the "Ilka work" ere. the mo:- portion of the tater in the Little
Evergledee epperently it {ran eurreoe origin, elthougb one {loving well one
obeerved on the Knynie property. the heed on this 15 inch well on 210 incbee
or lees to that tln not contributed by the well it it we; left open,in eddi-
tion to other ground voter eeepeae, would be null in cupnrieon to the total
veter We in a: Little max-glean eree.
nere ere two types of ecriculturel enterprise in tin Little area-sled,
cettle end citrus. A conflict of intereete bee developed between the tea
mommatbeleetfevyeere. lbeomereottbebottonlendmldlih
to new the voter renewed in order to provide unmoved posture for niein.
cettle. The bill lend for the soot pert 1e planted to citrus end nay or
tbeee mnmldlihetobevetbeveterinpoundedontbeirlovmeeio
order to provide so: cold ueether protection and to provide voter for irri-
getion nee. 'nae mount of cold nether protection tbnt cen be enacted by
the W voters of the Little Mrgledee cannot be definitely eetobliebed
without e research proJect in the urea covering eeverel peers. nae Ueetber
Bur-eon etetee that pond: of voter have some noderetina effect on cold veetber
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in the vicinity of citrus groves, but the munt oi' yrotection has not been
quentitetivel: esteblished.
The Little Evergledes ens muss s pert of s ample: voter bssin involv-
in; both surteee end underqu esters. m heedvetere of tin bssin lie in
Green Oven: mulleter 20 miles south end vest of the Little Ever-sled
srea end st soprano-ter 30 feet higher elevetion. In direct surfses con-
nection exists between Green m and Little merged, but around veter
ismtonevrrunthecreensw'hieh"tonrdendintouhenerris.
heexisteneeoist lesstonenaviuwusndtheemteneeorsmhess
new urine dmught periods would indieste thet pennants:- is dieeher'ed to
the surf: in the Little Eves-glues ms, elthouah the overlying strsts
sppsers to be tight enough to prevent visible springs.
The entire Oklmhe lssin is subject to severe ood and drought uc-
mctiees. m. yell-r (1959) the entire an hes been in s etete or need
sincetheliddle orthreh. Diseherge intothelevehekiverndmo
trenspiretion to the Where he: achieved s stste of belence vith the
reinfell only by greatly expended voter surtsee erees. 0n the other head,
ss lstely so 1957, the entire besin use serious); deneaed by low Isle levele,
lov stre- nows end greetiy reamed voter mace exees es neture belsneed
evspo-trenspiretion end stun discherue with reduced reintell.
The only vey to prevent these periodic "flood end duet periods is to
provide stereos tor vetsr during hesvy reintell periods true which voter can
be withdrew during dreught periods. This is being meaglished to em
sMntbyummthqproxi-suwaoo sqnerenilesresoi'creensm,
endinzlewlekes-kinxupthehesdmrsotnbuin. Buchnetursl
control however requires teirl: lame cheeses in elevetion end this cons
that mu th untu- olcmxou u huh, m attainin- usable 1nd 1: undu
wter; ad than the at luv). u 1w, nu! an; are coated.
mama-ct natural umtmnbyclnrma t1. {bum udbybuuuu
mm, airports, and Imcturu of I11 kind. that m hoax-vim Ind thu
shed tater madly. Inn bu mo uput autumn by "quiz-inc clear mum:
of water surface ouvutions Io tint he can utilise mum law. be nor.
an dunlopl th- an: in than two, the Ian storm or 41m capacity
in required in tho utter mo.
when 13 no doubt that w reduction in water storm in th- Littl-
Wadu urn v1.11 menu- the and for 01th:: manned storm or in-
cruud schna- u-pnclty m other parts or the Main. Little mm. 1.
uttutodtocantnnlbout zoo-Numofmrmuemnthemter
lml :- on: may or nan-1 nautical. a: surface mu 0! other .J-
or like: within n {N nuc- of tb Little maul-Au ml m:
Lab Isn't: Littln me than 18,750 acres
Luke WI. 3,830 "
uh Kimball: 2,750 "
lax! m1- 1,790 "
Lab Don .670 "
Lab ant MGM "
mu outta: 9.790
mom 58,960 Acres
nwtmwm1um,mnmmm lm.
W alona Puma-ha Creek thlt are quite nun: in characteristics to
that of the Little Everglades.
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It is obvious that while the sis-stint: or all the efforts ore-n to
reduce storege aid speed runoff have created very serious flood and over-
druineae conditions, the orients of altering water storage in any one see-
mt the sire of Little hex-glues vill not greatly effect the water ne-
eources oi' the basin as a ulnle.
It vould appear, therefore, that the problems involved here are chiefly
local in nature and that acne type of coeproeise should he worked out uhere-
hy sane of the area night he set aside for water storage while other areas
are neutered for use as pawn. it is quite possible that such a sober
night he of benefit to ell concerned by providing hesins into which the water
can be rapidly channeled, thus preventing flooding of upstre- grsss lands
and then the water could he usually discharged throud: drainage structures
01 limited size. m: type or control vould require the emenditure of funds
to acquire title to storage areas, construct drainage structures and operate
and neintain the systen.
he Oklsvaha Basin Recreation and Hater Conservation and control Antho-
rity we established in Lake County by the legislative Session or 1953. This
water conservation and emtnnl district covers the entire area of Lake county
and has euthority for controlling and conserving tin fresh water resources
of the county.
'lhe State Board of Conservetion under the powers set forth in l'lorids
Statutes, Chapter 313.151, any create within the state such water bwlomt
and conversation districts as are necessary to serve the purposes of the lav.
It is under the provision at this statute that this hearim is being held.
this board at conservation is authorised in any district established under
this luv to ibr-ilste, adopt, .nd, and repeal rules and regulations for
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said district. The lav does not provide for taxing povar for this type
district, so devalopent and operational mode would not be readily availe-
bla. Without mm, the district become only a regulatory bow.
he vetar control problem in the Little We has been in contro-
versy for several years, did the individual owners have been noble to solve
their differences. it wold seen that group action is necessary before a
lasting solution oen be round for the problem. If water conservation end
control is to bech a reality in the Little hauled area, an engineering
plenvillneedtobedevelopedtopmvidebothdreinssendveterconsem-
tion and to protect the ester rights of the individual omen.
he derel mmt M the Soil conservation service of the U.
8. Mt of Agriculture, is able to provide an. assistance to lend ovo-
ersxdaobaveproblenssncbssiacatbeonersoitbelndiotbeLittlezverb
eledee. his prom-u is hams: as Public m 566 projects. A local district
vitb taxing pover is needed as a sponsor or such a project. 'lbe Oklavsbs
Basin district in cooperation with the lake County Boil Conservation astrict
mli'ills ell the necessary qualifications for a project sponsor.
m Mat of Hater honorees is of the opinion at the establish-
nent of a water conservation district under nor-ids Statute 373.1% would
not solve the problens or the Little Everglades. we suggest that considera-
tion be given to a P. L. 566 proJect as discussed above. He believe some
drainssa properly engineered vould benefit the area, but overdrainsge of the
Little themed would not be to the best interests or Lela County and of
the State of Florida.
PAGE 1
Statent of Departzent of eter Resources Presented at the Public Hearing an tlie Necessity for e Water Coliney'vitt'en District in the Little Evergines own ar. Lake County Septs;iber ~:, 1959 at the Lake County Ceurt 11ause THvore:i, F20Tida The D.''partirent of etey' IIesources has made a brief study of tM Little averglades ares which included en on-site inuperion of the entire area, the ale'asuri.g of water levels of several wells, and tha interviewir.g of property ownera of the area to obtain the alstorical backgrairrid. Detailed topographie 111aps af the arms are not available, but air photos arid W soila 111ap af the area were studied. The area kriovn as Little Fverglades conalets of a series of lov arene surrt'urided by sandy hilia. Many of tle lov areas eer.1t to tie connected by Robes, although salm are apparently colepletely land locked. Rialoff free surrounding halla colleetd in the low areas and flows off slavly to a east, eve-.tuelly getting inta Little Lake Harris. l'he flow is retarded by heavy gravth cf vegetatice Daring periode of less shali mornial rainfell, the veter level in these low areas receden; and during periode of drought, prootienlly the entire Hae becallen dry anagh to plow. fairing periods of greater
PAGE 2
Over The years, fere:ers have naisted the enture dreimrge, such as it vas, by spa clean cut; until at the grear-nt ta a :-bannel exterAs from the area in the vicieity of 2::untry -tore ut Eghway 27 to Little Lake Narris. There are check de-as in t~ae rene h of the chmalel upstre-m11 frol Little Lake Rarris, and ote obstructiomi in dic form :i" real culverts extend through+ out the entire length. The .:lean ...ut by iridive',ial owers during tbe last fe"r yelir3 haO been done by dragline Scale clean Gut VG5 dOne by FWA let'or back in the "ina'te verk" era. lhe mapr pOrtic;n af the water in the L3 ttle EvergladES 6pparently 18 fr01R aurff:e Origin, althDu66 One flDylnE well Maa observed on the Heynic property. ne heed an thfu a inch all an 21. inches er lean so tamt the flaw contributed by the uell 1f it was left openin addition te' other ground water seepage, weld be Emil fr comoarison to the total water tinpounded in the Little Evergindes area. There are tw tynes of aSriculturul enterprise in the Little Ever615deS> cattle and citrus. A confli.it of interests has developed between the twc groups during (be laat few yeare. The OwDerS Df the bOtt315 land vauld 11]re a have tM vnter Miloved in order te provie impmed pasture for reasing enttle. The hili land for the m;st part is riantrA to clu'un and moly of these courier wed lia;e te have the uner impeanded an their icw areas in orar to gravide saae cold weather potection and to pmvide water for imgation use. lile amiuunt of cold werther protection tbet can be expected by tim Emipounded vaters of the Li-.tle Everglades cannot be definitsy established without a resurch pa,!cet in the area covering severg years. th. A'ntber llureau otates that ponda of water have noela sladerating effect on cold weather
PAGE 3
ymitta-smy enaamnea. 7's :.iitie -argladea fires f.:'r;r.:s a part er a colsplex mier begin inv.:llV ing b.:.ta surface s.d under5r-rard 2:era ."te headwrere of the beein lie M Green awa-g spyraximtely 20 miles exth m:d west -.f the Little Everglades eram and at nyproximtely -10 rest haber elentlen, [fu direct surfaa en nectan exiate between Green Murp and Little [herGlades, hist g.mid war is knevr. ta flow from the Green dwel.''high" uw-=cd and into Iake Harris, he existance of et least one f1,wirg mit ani the existence of noe base flow duri r.g dr-wtt periode muld indl eau that Brordwater 18 di charged to the duri~ace in the Little Livercr~4sides grea, al thate-h ths. overlJing strata appears to be tight a:mugh tc prevent vis:1--.le springs. T|w entin: Oklasha Nisin is subjet ta ee-wre fa:-d and drought rluctaatiCall. Thi5 year (169.~') the er.tl.re slay has -omr. ia e stata af Emd sin2 the "'.id:De of Msret. Dacherp -.nu the QM-awaha Ri-;sy and evapatranspiratia:-. to the atmo-phere has achie'red a siete nr ba Ence s'-th ibe: runrull r.nly b:: greritly ex['onded water surface arms. Cn the other hand, as intely ne 16% the entire bmim was serie:usly damaged by low lake levein l'.a strem;1 21: ws and greatly --educe:i water sterfa=:e areas au na-.ure bulanced riapu-transpiration atl stream 2,1.:barge with reduced rainfall. The only way to premit thue immile ''fle..=3 and dust-' periods 15 to provi& storage for vater during br:avy ral:ifali peruds i'rua: uhleh water enn he withdraut durio6 drought perieds;. Thic is teirg accelltpliebed to mole e:rter.t by nature in the approx|msitely S'=0 were milareu of Great Amilia mal in the ria:1y takes maktrig up the benar.tere ..r t!V: toE m, f>uch natural control hows:ver requires fairly Lars abapres in elevetirn era tMs sleene
PAGE 4
that when the veter elevati;,n is high, much etherwise usable lend is under water; and vben the water level in lov, amud flats are exposed. Man hati upset natural regulate on by clearin!1; tim faresta and by building roads, airports, and structure of all kinds that are impervious and thus abed veter rapidly. Flen has also upset nature by requirleig closer regulation. td water surface elevations no that he can utilize orgmal landa. The more cien develaps the nres in ther.e ways, the liiore steege or discharge capacity is required in the water ways. There is no doubt that any reduetlen in voter storage in the Little Everglades area will increase the need for either increased storage or '.nerensed dineharge enpacity tri ether 3.orts of the basin. Little EvergLedes is esT.imated te contain ab-.ut 2500-3Coe seres or water surrace where the water level is near everage er nomal elevattomi. The surface areas af other inajc.r lekes within a few miles of the Little bergiades area are ; ake Harrio -Llttle lake Harris 16,750 aerea Loke truisa 3,200
PAGE 5
It is ob':icu... ..h.. ....esmmtoc U h f m o int
PAGE 6
uaid district. The *.sv does not prr.vide far tmng power for this type district, 113 develogilaaet and operationni fords would not be readily available, Without funds, the district beceiras only a regulatory body. The water control prc.blem in the Little Everglades has been in controver-sy for several years, and the individual owners have been unable to selve their differences. It watd seem that group eetian is necesonry before a lastir41; solut.ion col be found for the probin if water cogrervation and matrol la a tecalme n :'enlity '.n the Little Everglades area, an engineerug plan vill rieed to be developed to provide both drainage and water ceaserve.. tior) end to pri:.tect the water s'ights 2 the individual owners. The federal government through the Sail Canmervation $ervice of the U, i limparticert of /griculture, 10 able to provsde seele nenistente to Isod eva-. ers who have problems such as face The owi'lers of the innd in the I.ittle hverglades. %16 prNrm is kr.evn as l'ublie Lev 566 projects. A local district vitt texh's gewer iu cleeded as e zietisor of such a prQect. De Oklawaha i!asin district in golperstian with the Lake Courity 5..,11 Conservation Retrin fulfills all the necessary qualiftentions for a pro,)eet uponne-r. He D'-partment of Ater Pasourten is of the opinion tant the estat-lish.. sient of a water consreatioli di-trin u:Ar ?torida statute 373.9% uould Eat g-ilve the probleola .,i the 11tile EVerglades. We euggest that considerstion be given te a r. L. 566 pr=ject sa alscussed above. we bel ieve songi iramese proprly ergineered would benefit the arch at overdrainage of the Little Everglades w>uld not be to the best interacts er Lake Cour.ty and of the State of Tiorida.
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