FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 2015
~Restoration plan identifies strategies and projects
to improve water quality~
GAINESVILLE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection invites stakeholders –
governmental representatives, scientists, environmental groups, agricultural
operators and others – to attend a meeting addressing
restoration of waterbodies in the Orange Creek Basin. DEP representatives will discuss the status
of ongoing projects and sampling, the restoration plan schedule, and pollutant
issues and sources to the lakes.
WHAT: Orange Creek Basin Restoration
Plan Update Meeting
WHEN:
Tuesday, March 31
1:30
– 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Gainesville Regional
Utilities Multi-Purpose Room
301
S.E. 4th Ave.
Gainesville,
FL 32601
“We have taken some innovative
approaches to identifying bacterial pollutant sources in this basin,” said Tom
Frick, director of the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration.
“Using these results and stakeholder expertise, we can better identify the most
effective path to restoration.”
The Orange Creek Basin restoration plan covers
Newnans Lake, Orange Lake, Lake Wauberg, Hogtown Creek, Sweetwater Branch,
Tumblin Creek and Alachua Sink. The lakes are impacted by nutrient pollution, while high levels of bacteria are a
continuing trend in area streams. To restore water quality, the department adopted
a second phase to its restoration plan last year. Stakeholders are actively
engaged in coordinating with DEP and implementing projects to improve water
quality.
For more information on the Orange Creek
restoration plan, please click here.
For more information on the Paynes
Prairie Sheetflow Project, please click here.
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