Lake Jesup
Encyclopedia
Lake Jesup is one of the largest lakes in Central Florida
, one of many that make up the St. Johns River
. Located in the heart of Seminole County
along the middle basin of the St. Johns, the lake encompasses an area of approximately 16,000 acres (65 km²), including open water and floodplain. The lake boasts one of the longest free-standing bridges, part of the Seminole Expressway, which bisects the lake. It is named in honor of Brigadier General Thomas Jesup
, an American military officer who served in the Second Seminole War.
The lake is home to a wide variety of species and is considered to support one of the state's densest populations of alligators. Drivers on the bridge across the lake are likely to see eagles (osprey
and bald eagles) perched on the light posts watching for fish.
During the 1960s, the toll of decades of abuse and neglect was very apparent. Wastewater discharged directly into the lake, stormwater discharges from surrounding communities, the construction of berms that segregated the lake from parts of its floodplain, and a causeway that reduced the lake's connection with the St. Johns River all took their toll on the ecosystem. The discharges resulted in significant algal growth
, fish kill
s, and a thick layer of muck
more than 9½ feet deep in some areas sitting on the bottom of the lake that now averages only six feet in depth. The berm construction aggravated this problem by limiting the lake's ability to cleanse itself.
During the 1990s studies were conducted of water circulation patterns, stormwater runoff into the lake, the impacts of the State Road 46 bridge, sediments within the lake, and land management plans for adjacent public properties. With this data in hand, The Friends of Lake Jesup and the St. Johns River Water Management District
staff worked closely with the Florida Department of Transportation
and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
to develop a plan for restoring the lake.
Since that data was lost, the Friends and the District staff, working closely with the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, began to determine the most environmentally sound and economically feasible methods of restoring the lake.
Since that time the water district brought about 3850 acres (15.6 km²) around the lake into public ownership and has plans for acquiring an additional 4700 acres (19 km²) of floodplain around the lake as part of the restoration process and to ensure the health of the lake into the future.
In the spring of 1996 a 2 miles (3.2 km) berm on the north side of the lake was removed, reuniting 300 acres (1.2 km²) of floodplain with the lake to act as a natural filter. The removal of this berm also increases the lake's flood buffering capacity as well as provides habitat to a wide variety of life.
In January 2008 the Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Transportation, and others contracted to have the State Road 46 bridge rebuilt. A website, "Lake Jesup Bridge Project", has been created to provide status information. The re-opening of channel B and the removal of about a mile of causeway will significantly improve the flow of the St. Johns River into and out of the lake. Several other projects are underway to improve the quality of the lake. The Friends of Lake Jesup meet monthly to monitor existing projects and to bring new areas of concern into focus. There are small businesses that operate lakeside restaurants, fish camps, and airboat tours in the vicinity of the lake.
Central Florida
Central Florida is a regional designation for the area surrounding Orlando in east central Florida, United States. The area represents the third largest population concentration in Florida, after the South Florida and Tampa Bay regions, respectively....
, one of many that make up the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
. Located in the heart of Seminole County
Seminole County, Florida
Seminole County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. Located between Orlando to the south and Deland and Daytona Beach to the north, it is part of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. Its county seat and largest city is Sanford...
along the middle basin of the St. Johns, the lake encompasses an area of approximately 16,000 acres (65 km²), including open water and floodplain. The lake boasts one of the longest free-standing bridges, part of the Seminole Expressway, which bisects the lake. It is named in honor of Brigadier General Thomas Jesup
Thomas Jesup
Brigadier General Thomas Sidney Jesup, USA was an American military officer known as the "Father of the Modern Quartermaster Corps". He was born in Berkeley County, West Virginia. He began his military career in 1808, and served in the War of 1812, seeing action in the battles of Chippewa and...
, an American military officer who served in the Second Seminole War.
The lake is home to a wide variety of species and is considered to support one of the state's densest populations of alligators. Drivers on the bridge across the lake are likely to see eagles (osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
and bald eagles) perched on the light posts watching for fish.
During the 1960s, the toll of decades of abuse and neglect was very apparent. Wastewater discharged directly into the lake, stormwater discharges from surrounding communities, the construction of berms that segregated the lake from parts of its floodplain, and a causeway that reduced the lake's connection with the St. Johns River all took their toll on the ecosystem. The discharges resulted in significant algal growth
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
, fish kill
Fish kill
The term fish kill, known also as fish die-off and as fish mortality, is a localized die-off of fish populations which may also be associated with more generalised mortality of aquatic life...
s, and a thick layer of muck
Muck (soil)
Muck is a soil made up primarily of humus from drained swampland. It is known as black soil in The Fens of eastern England, where it was originally mainly fen and bog. It is used there, as in the United States, for growing specialty crops such as onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes...
more than 9½ feet deep in some areas sitting on the bottom of the lake that now averages only six feet in depth. The berm construction aggravated this problem by limiting the lake's ability to cleanse itself.
During the 1990s studies were conducted of water circulation patterns, stormwater runoff into the lake, the impacts of the State Road 46 bridge, sediments within the lake, and land management plans for adjacent public properties. With this data in hand, The Friends of Lake Jesup and the St. Johns River Water Management District
St. Johns River Water Management District
The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five Florida water management districts that is responsible for managing groundwater and surface water resources in Florida. SJRWMD covers an 18-county region in northeast and east-central Florida...
staff worked closely with the Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is a Florida government agency charged with managing the state's fish and wildlife resources, regulating Florida's fisheries and wildlife, and enforcing related laws...
to develop a plan for restoring the lake.
Since that data was lost, the Friends and the District staff, working closely with the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, began to determine the most environmentally sound and economically feasible methods of restoring the lake.
Since that time the water district brought about 3850 acres (15.6 km²) around the lake into public ownership and has plans for acquiring an additional 4700 acres (19 km²) of floodplain around the lake as part of the restoration process and to ensure the health of the lake into the future.
In the spring of 1996 a 2 miles (3.2 km) berm on the north side of the lake was removed, reuniting 300 acres (1.2 km²) of floodplain with the lake to act as a natural filter. The removal of this berm also increases the lake's flood buffering capacity as well as provides habitat to a wide variety of life.
In January 2008 the Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Transportation, and others contracted to have the State Road 46 bridge rebuilt. A website, "Lake Jesup Bridge Project", has been created to provide status information. The re-opening of channel B and the removal of about a mile of causeway will significantly improve the flow of the St. Johns River into and out of the lake. Several other projects are underway to improve the quality of the lake. The Friends of Lake Jesup meet monthly to monitor existing projects and to bring new areas of concern into focus. There are small businesses that operate lakeside restaurants, fish camps, and airboat tours in the vicinity of the lake.