Residents welcome to attend Lake Panasoffkee open house

News Release

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to an open house about Lake Panasoffkee on Tuesday, Dec. 7. The workshop will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at "Lake Panasoffkee Recreation Park(Lake Panasoffkee Recreation Park)":http://sumtercountyfl.gov/index.aspx?NID=207, 1582 CR 459, Lake Panasoffkee.

The District is holding the open house to discuss the success of the restoration project as well as current and historic lake conditions and levels. District staff members as well as representatives from the "Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)":http://myfwc.com will be available to answer questions.

Under the direction of the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council established by the Florida Legislature, the District completed a five-year dredging restoration project on the lake in December 2008 to benefit fish and wildlife. The restoration project was completed in four phases, and consisted of removing approximately 8.3 million cubic yards of sediment from more than 1,744 acres of lake area.

The results include better bottom habitat for fish, healthy eelgrass beds and a more productive fishery. To further encourage the re-establishment of eelgrass, District biologists allowed the lake to reach its normal low level during the spring and summer of 2010.

For more information, please contact the Environmental Section at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4378.