FROM: SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT
MAY 26, 2015 – By: Randy Smith
From Savings to Supply: New SFWMD Storage Area Shows Dual Benefit. Nicodemus Slough begins supplying needed water to the Caloosahatchee River
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has begun supplying water for the first time from the Nicodemus Slough water storage area in Glades County to benefit the health of the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary and local agricultural fields. “Nicodemus Slough successfully provided some relief from high discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries when there was too much water earlier this year,” said Jeff Kivett, SFWMD Director of the Operations, Engineering and Construction Division. “Now, the project is proving its potential to also provide water supply to the regional system, including flows needed to maintain healthy salinity levels in one of the region’s vital waterways.”
With Lake Okeechobee’s level falling, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the lake, announced last week it was following its federal guidelines by reducing flows from the lake to the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary. District engineers, in coordination with the Corps, determined water could be moved from Nicodemus Slough to the river to replace some of the decreased, but needed water. Water is currently moving by gravity through gates at the site at about 1.3 million gallons-an-hour, with potential to increase the water deliveries. From there, it follows a route through the C-19 Canal and into Lake Hicpochee, which will see some rehydration benefits, and into the river. Operations at Nicodemus Slough will continue until it’s no longer environmentally desirable or the water can no longer be delivered via gravity.
Located south of Fisheating Creek on the western bank of the lake, the Nicodemus Slough project was intended to provide interim water storage until projects such as the Caloosahatchee River (C- 43) West Basin Storage Reservoir are completed. In a cooperative agreement with Lykes Brothers, the District is leasing the property for an investment of $2 million a year for 8 years, with an option to extend the agreement. The project can store an annual average of 34,000 acre-feet of water, or about 11 billion gallons. In response to high water levels in Lake Okeechobee in January, the SFWMD began operation of Nicodemus Slough to capture some of the water being released by the Corps from the lake before it reached the river and estuary. Full-capacity pumping sent water onto the 16,000-acre project area, utilizing four pumps moving more than 30,000 gallons of water each per minute. Nicodemus Slough is one of multiple actions the SFWMD has taken to expand water storage opportunities. Since 2005, the District and a variety of partners worked together to enhance water storage opportunities on private and public lands through the agency’s Dispersed Water Management Program. Approximately 87,000 acre-feet of water retention and storage has been made available in the greater Everglades system through the program, with the majority located in the Lake Okeechobee watershed. Nearly 100,000 acre-feet of additional storage, including six new projects approved in December 2014, are under development.
SUMMER CAMP MEANS THE LIVIN’ AND FISHIN’ ARE EASY
JUNE 3, 2015 – Contact: FWC, Amanda Nalley
Hey kids and parents! Are you looking for something fun to fill the long summer days? Why not try a Kids’ Saltwater Fishing Camp. Several of these educational, weeklong events are scheduled across the state this summer. Spaces are limited, so sign up today before they fill.
Hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partners, these clinics enable young people to learn the basics of environmental stewardship, fishing ethics, angling skills and safety.
Camps location and schedules include:
- Naples: July 6-10, July 13-17, July 27-31, and Aug 3-7. Ages 9 and up.
- Stuart: July 20-24. Ages 12-14
- Jupiter: Aug 3-7 and Aug 10-14. Grades 6-8 for week one and grades 4-6 for week two
- St. Petersburg: Aug 3-7, ages 8-15
To find out more about FWC;s other fishing clinics for kids, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing and select the “Youth & Student” option under “Education.”
ICAST RETURNING TO FLORIDA IN JULY
MAY 29, 2015 – The American Sportfishing Association has expanded the lineup for its long-standing ICAST trade show, which will take place from July 14-17 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.
The event will include an array of events to get things started the day before the exhibition opens.
For the third year, ICAST and the International Fly Tackle Dealer show, the fly tackle-specific show produced by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, are co-locating in the convention center on the same days with the same show hours.
The main attractions on this year’s show schedule include celebrities from the world of country music and the National Football League, as well as two new events on nearby Lake Toho, an expansive product demonstration and a tournament.
Now in its 58th year, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, annually attracts nearly 12,000 people from around the globe to take part in the world’s largest showcase of sportfishing products, apparel and accessories.
Last year’s show included nearly 500 exhibitors and a show floor covering half a million square feet.
“ICAST is a great global celebration that brings us together and reminds us why our sport and our industry are so special,” ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman said in a statement. “The show has always offered the best chance to engage face to face with everyone in fishing, see all the latest examples of the industry’s ingenuity and gain some inspiration and good ideas along the way.”
“With the continual flow of creativity, enthusiasm and generosity from our members, we’re able to keep improving on ICAST’s success,” he added.
ICAST is an industry only event and not open to the general public. For more detail, visit http://www.icastfishing.org.
BIMINI RESORT NAMES FISHING TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
JUNE 10TH, 2015 – Misty Wells, a competitive angler and outdoors events marketer known as the “Outdoor Darlin,” was named tournament director of the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina in Alice Town, Bimini, in the Bahamas.
A Florida native, Wells is a lifelong angler and has been a member of a women’s team that has competed in numerous Florida tournaments, including Key West Marlin, Key West Kingfish, King of the Beach, Islamorada Sea Hunter Owners and Suncoast Kingfish Classic and the Bill Curry Ford Ladies Tournament.
A pro staff angler, Wells is also the first woman selected to fish in the Offshore Fishing League, which is launching its debut on NBC Sports in the fall of 2016. The OFL is the world’s first professional saltwater sportfishing league. It has 30 teams composed of captains, anglers and deckhands.
“We are very pleased to have someone of Misty’s caliber to serve as tournament director for our resort,” Horizon Hotel Group president James Gould said in a statement. ”She also brings a wealth of experience in outdoors sport event planning and marketing, having worked with Fortune 500 companies, sports franchises, as well as many national celebrities.”
First up for Wells is the Wahoo Smackdown VII, scheduled for Nov. 12-14. She will engage sponsors and coordinate angler registration and tournament rules.
Misty is also a frequent outdoor contributor for our very own CAM – Okeechobee edition.
