P.O. Box 374, Weirsdale, FL 32195 Email: February 2016

SAVE LAKE WEIR NEWSLETTER

P.O. Box 374, Weirsdale, FL 32195 Email: February 2016

Website: savelakeweir.com

Ann Anderson, President MayFair Taylor,Secretary

Vic Knoblock, Vice President Cliff Forrester, Treasurer

Annual Membership Meeting

Sunday, February 28, 2016, 12:00 PM

The annual meeting will be held at the Lake Weir Yacht Club, 13830 SE 145th Avenue Rd, East Lake Weir. The Yacht Club is located 2.5 miles east of Ocklawaha. Turn west off of CR 25 on

SE 139th Place and drive to end of the road.

. A light complimentary lunch will be served starting at 12:00 noon. The meeting will start at approximately 1:00 pm. Board of Directors for the coming year will be elected. Members are encouraged to bring to the Board of Director’s attention their concerns and anything they feel the board should address this year.

Membership

Your dues must be current in order to vote at this meeting and receive newsletters. Annual dues are $5.00 per person per year and $100 per person for a lifetime membership. Enclosed for your convenience is a return envelope and membership form to be filled out and returned. Life members should use membership form only to update email, address and phone numbers. In order to keep accurate records, please send in annual dues and update email addresses.

There are currently over 400 Save Lake Weir members.

.Invite your neighbors or a friends to attend the meeting - new members are welcome!

Recognition of Board Members

Ann Anderson – At LargeKim Preston – Weirsdale

Cliff Forrester – Sunset HarborJane Sands – At Large

Bob Hightower – OcklawahaMayFair Taylor – At Large

Jack Harward – East Lake WeirMimi Ayer - Little Lake

Vic Knockblock-At Large

Elections

Three seats on the board shall be filled by election each year as stated in the by-laws. The following current board members have agreed to serve for the upcoming term of 2016 to 2019. If you cannot attend the meeting a proxy is enclosed for you to send in. There will be nominations from the floor at the meeting. Please let a member of the board know if you would like to serve as a board member.

Cliff Forrester – Cliff is currently serving as treasurer of SLW. He and his wife, Beth, live in Sunset Harbor, having moved here from Michigan 29 years ago. Cliff is concerned about the future of Lake Weir. He set up the SLW website Take a look at this site.

Jack Harward – Born and raised in Ocala, married to Patsy, they have lived on Big Lake Weir (Eastside) since 1996. Jack enjoys fishing on the lake and working in the yard with Patsy. They both enjoy the week-ends in the summer when their children and grandchildren spend time at the lake with them.

Vic Knoblock – Vic was born and raised in Ocala and moved to Lake Weir permanently in May of 2004. He owns and operates Post Office Tire Service in Ocala. Vic is currently vice president of SLW and has served as president.

Speaker at Annual Meeting – Ms. Kim Dinkins

We are pleased to announce that we will have as our keynote speaker, Ms.Kim Dinkins, a senior planner with Marion County Growth Services. She has lived in Marion County most of her life. Prior to her work with Marion County Government, Kim worked for a localenvironmental firm, HydroMentia, and before that, the South Florida Water Management District. She has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and master's degree in Soil and Water Science, both from the University of Florida. Her talk will focus on Lake Weir water quality and Management Plan.

Carney Island 2016 Recreational Activities

Below are various activities that are offered at Carney Island throughout the year. Please go to or call (352) 671-8560 for updated activities calendar or to schedule a private event.

Eco Tram Tours

Evening Night Hike

Explore Marion County – Interpretive Nature Walk

Kayak/Paddleboard 101 at Carney Island

Family Campout

Summer Camps

Owl-ween at Carney Island

Outdoor Adventure for Home Schoolers

HITS Triathlon

April 2-3, 2016

Check out their Website for more info: hitstriathlonseries.com

Lake Level

There has been a very slight decrease in the level of the lake this year. In September of 1999, St. Johns Water Management District was required to set a minimum flow water level for Lake Weir which is 54.9 feet elevation. As of January 17, 2016, the level is 50.7 ft, down slightly from

51 ft. last year.

Lake Living

Light Up Lake Weir and Boat Parade

The Lake Weir community enjoyed the Light Up Lake Weir event and Boat Parade held on December 6th. There were thirty-one boats entered in the parade. Winners were: 1st Place-Carl and Martha Johns, 2nd Place-Glenn Willette, 3rd Place-Bob Sackrider, 4th Place-Dan and Liz Schnebel and 5th Place-Wendell Landry.

Dock winners were: 1st Place-Rich and Trish Brown, 2nd Place-Greg and Sherry Wiley and 3rd Place-David and Delancy Franklin.

Join in the fun this December and be sure to decorate your dock and enter your boat in the parade.

Fishing Report

Many lake residents became aware of an unusual number of dead fish on their beaches in late April. Officials were called andwater testing began. Tests confirmed their suspicions of Blue-Green Algae. A similar event occurred on Lake Bryant in December of 2014 resulting in a fish kill of approx. 400,000. Fl. Dept of Health along with Marion County Health Dept. issued warnings and posted signs advising people to stay out of the water and not consume any fish until furthernotice. Exposure to the algae could result in skin rashes, eye and ear infections, diarrhea, and other flu-like symptoms. The algae bloom resultedfrom a "Perfect Storm" situation in which the heavy rains created excessive water run off and brought in nutrients from fertilizer and septic tank overflow. The algae bloom blocked sunlight from oxygen producing plants and the result was low oxygen, thus the fish kill. There seems to be no lasting effects on the fish population as the summer months produced large numbers of pan fish for anglers. The quality of our lake water is a constant concern for everyone and as a reminder of what we can do, a reprint of the "Guide to Homeowners Waterfront Living” is printed on the last page.

Save Lake Weir would like to thank the Lake Weir Yacht Club for providing the beautiful and historic club for our annual membership meeting.

Guide to Homeowners-Waterfront Living: As a homeowner next to or near Lake Weir, you are aware of the benefits of living by such a waterbody. You may not be aware of how fragile lake systems can be in our region and that impacts to the lake’s quality can come from many sources. Below are a few things a homeowner can do to help the lake so that future generations can also enjoy all that the lake has to offer.

Shoreline Tips

The shoreline edge can significantly impact Lake Weir’s overall health. This area serves as habitat for plants and animals and helps to filter pollutants in stormwater runoff before it reaches open water. Vegetation along the shoreline also serves to protect from erosion. How can you help?

•Limit removal of aquatic vegetation along the shoreline.

•Incorporate a swale that can catch runoff and provide treatment of the stormwater.

•Maintain at least a 10 foot low-maintenance zone between your yard and beach. In this area, use plants that are Florida Friendly, which reduces the need for fertilizer.

The next two links provide good information about waterfront Example of swale along lakefront. living:

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Fertilizer Use Tips

A healthy lawn can act as a sponge to absorb nutrients and prevent them from entering our rivers, lakes and springs. Fertilizers are often used as a component of landscape and lawn care, but too much of a good thing can have a negative impact on your lawn and Lake Weir.

Do not apply fertilizer within 75 feet of the lake.

•If you must fertilize your lawn, conduct a soil test to determine its actual fertilizer needs. More about fertilization rates can be found at BeWiseWhenYouFertilize.com.

•Select a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer with no phosphorus (P).

•Read and follow the application directions on the label.

•Don’t apply fertilizer prior to a rain event.

•Apply only the minimum amount of fertilizer recommended.

•Clean up any fertilizer that spills on sidewalks or roadways.

Septic System Maintenance Guide

•Inspect septic systems every two to three years.

•Pump septic systems at least once every 5 years.

•When necessary, make appropriate repairs.

•Flush responsibly – no diapers, cigarettes, dental floss, coffee grounds, cotton swabs, feminine hygiene products, or trash.

•Keep household hazardous wastes out! Don’t flush paint, gasoline, antifreeze, oil or pesticides.

•Fix plumbing leaks and drips.

•Protect your drain field by planting only grass over and near it. Tree and shrub roots can damage the system. Don’t drive or park vehicles on the drain field.

•Route roof drains away from the septic drain field.