The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board approved minimum and guidance levels for 11 lakes in Citrus, Levy and Sumter counties.
Once approved, these levels will become part of the Florida Administrative Code and the District’s rules and will be used as guidelines in District permitting programs, for development of water resource projects, as information for development bordering lakes and in the management of water control structures.
The lakes include Fort Cooper Lake, Lake Marion, Lake Panasoffkee, Lake Deaton, Lake Okahumpka, Lake Miona, Black Lake, Big Gant Lake and the Floral City, Hernando and Inverness pools of Tsala Apopka Lake.
A minimum level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving a balance between meeting human water needs and those of Florida’s natural systems.
Guidance levels are used to describe expected water level fluctuations.
Currently water levels for most of the 11 lakes are below the adopted minimum levels. However, because minimum levels are evaluated on a long-term basis, with consideration of rainfall patterns, the minimum levels are being met.