Public to Share Thoughts on Restoration Projects in Florida

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, is seeking input on four permit requests from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to conduct routine restoration activities on 83 lakes and water bodies throughout Florida.

FWC has applied for permits from the Corps to conduct restoration activities on 12 lakes in FWC’s Northwest Region, 45 lakes in FWC’s Northeast Region, 22 lakes and water bodies in the FWC’s Southwest Region, and 4 lakes in FWC’s South Region.

This request is part of an overall initiative in which FWC is working with the Corps to obtain permits for routine restoration work in 94 lakes and water bodies throughout Florida.

Specifically, FWC is seeking permits for routine mechanical aquatic plant maintenance activities for habitat restoration and navigation maintenance within these water bodies for a period of 15 years.

The proposed maintenance techniques include mechanical harvesting of floating vegetation, shredding floating vegetation, and using earth-moving and tilling equipment on vegetated areas during dry conditions.