The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board approved minimum and guidance levels for six lakes in Pasco County.
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.
These levels 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 Crews Lake, Lake Iola, Jessamine Lake, Pasco Lake, Pierce Lake, and Unnamed Lake Number 22, known as Loyce Lake.
Currently water levels for five of the six 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 for most of the lakes are being met. Recovery strategies are in place to promote compliance with all of the adopted minimum levels.