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Swiftmud pumping water into depleted lakes
By JOSH ZIMMER, Times Staff Writer KEYSTONE -- By the middle of this week, the pumping of water from Lake Pretty to three area lakes should be taking place around the clock. But so far the people who live near Church Lake, who initiated the project, are being left out of the Southwest Florida Water Management District's plans. Pumping from Lake Pretty to Horn Lake began on Sept. 20, said Gary Kuhl, Swiftmud's director of operations. Lake Raleigh was getting water as of Friday, and Swiftmud will turn on new pumps within days, making it possible to add Lake Rogers to its list. The units also will open the way for 24-hour-a-day pumping. Yet no firm plan exists to transport water to Church Lake, where drought and wellfield pumping have depleted levels so much that residents can no longer launch boats from their docks. Swiftmud, which is studying long-term water supply measures, had no intention of initiating this temporary pipeline until Church Lake homeowners began complaining, first to Tampa Bay Water and then to the district. Before Swiftmud can consider pumping to the lake, Kuhl said the district needs authorization from the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, as well as the city of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg owns Church Lake, which is just west of Lake Rogers. In August, when the district decided to revitalize a pipeline that was in place during the 1997-98 El Nino event, Church Lake residents thought they would receive the water. But Kuhl said the district never promised water to residents, who were led by longtime lakefront resident Helen Wehle. "The staff has never said to them that was an immediate item on the horizon," said Kuhl, adding discussions already are under way with Hillsborough and St. Petersburg about including Church Lake. "We have certainly stayed in touch with her. She is disappointed, I'm sure." Wehle could not be reached for comment. The six-month project was made possible by a solid rainy season, which left Lake Pretty with some water to spare, Kuhl said. Swiftmud hopes even more water will become available, as another El Nino is expected this year. Swiftmud persuaded lakefront homeowner Geoff Bond to let it place a 200-horsepower diesel generator on his property, from where the water is being transported through 12- and 14-inch pipes to the nearby lakes. Because the diesel engines are loud, Kuhl said, the district has restricted pumping to daytime. If the effect is any indication, Church Lake residents are missing out on a clear benefit. At a rate of 4-million gallons day, the pumping has filled Horn Lake to normal levels and added 4 feet to Lake Raleigh with several more feet to go, he said. Badly depleted Lake Rogers is a higher priority right now than Church Lake, he said. When pumping began, Lake Pretty stood at 44.8 feet above sea level. But Kuhl is encouraged by the amount of water left, even without another El Nino windfall. The current lake level is about 44.5 feet, he said. The district has promised not to let it drop below 44 feet. "We don't want to cause them (Lake Pretty residents) any concern," he said.
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