Lake Apopka
The People of the Lake and the Restoration of Lake Apopka
Dr. Joseph Siry served one year as a River Restoration Coordinator for Florida Defenders of the Environment during efforts to restore the St. Johns River Watershed. Today, as Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at Rollins College in Florida, Dr. Siry is engaged
in the Apopka Community Partnership
in the Apopka Community Partnership
The People of the Lake and the Restoration of Lake Apopka
An Interview with Dr. Joseph Siry
By Lauris Hollis
Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Fig. 1. Dr. Joseph Siry
“A prevailing assumption in the narrative of science is that scientific findings rarely influence policy decisions until some natural catastrophe, traceable in part to human ignorance, offers an opportunity for scientists with vision and social responsibility to suggest environmental safeguards.” -Dr. Joseph Siry, Marshes of the Ocean Shore
1.“Ich Dien” (“I Serve”)
Dr. Joseph Siry (Fig. 1) served one year as a River Restoration Coordinator for Florida
Defenders of the Environment during efforts to restore the St. Johns River Watershed. Today, as Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at Rollins College in Florida, Dr. Siry is engaged in the Apopka Community Partnership. As part of SPARC (Service Philanthropy Activism Rollins College), Dr. Siry introduces his students to local communities through service-learning
days and activism by partnering students with community agencies across Central Florida.
Dr. Joseph Siry (Fig. 1) served one year as a River Restoration Coordinator for Florida
Defenders of the Environment during efforts to restore the St. Johns River Watershed. Today, as Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at Rollins College in Florida, Dr. Siry is engaged in the Apopka Community Partnership. As part of SPARC (Service Philanthropy Activism Rollins College), Dr. Siry introduces his students to local communities through service-learning
days and activism by partnering students with community agencies across Central Florida.
2. Lake Apopka
Lake Apopka in the St. Johns River watershed of central Florida is the fourth largest lake in the state (Figs. 2 and 3). The clear, spring-fed waters was once a world-class largemouth bass fishery. The freshwater marshes on the periphery of lake once served as a wintering area for waterfowl, shorebirds, and other migratory bird species. Historically, Lake Apopka and its surrounding shores provided multiple habitats for a diverse assemblage of species in a complex food chain that supported
fish, reptiles, amphibians, and their predators.
Lake Apopka in the St. Johns River watershed of central Florida is the fourth largest lake in the state (Figs. 2 and 3). The clear, spring-fed waters was once a world-class largemouth bass fishery. The freshwater marshes on the periphery of lake once served as a wintering area for waterfowl, shorebirds, and other migratory bird species. Historically, Lake Apopka and its surrounding shores provided multiple habitats for a diverse assemblage of species in a complex food chain that supported
fish, reptiles, amphibians, and their predators.
Fig. 2. Location of Lake Apopka, FL.
Fig. 3. Dr. Siry at Lake Apopka.
Fig. 4. The ‘tragedy of the
commons’ at Lake Apopka.
3. Contamination
In the 1940s, 20,000 acres of wetlands on Lake Apopka’s north shore were drained for farming. Farmers used water from the lake for irrigation. The alternating cycles of flooding and draining of the fields resulted in a heavy run-off of fertilizers and pesticides. Algae blooms ensued and turned the clear waters to a pea-green color. But nutrients were the tip of the iceberg. Two
Superfund sites, located on opposite ends of the lake, have leaked pesticides into the ecosystem since 1979 (Fig. 4).
In the 1940s, 20,000 acres of wetlands on Lake Apopka’s north shore were drained for farming. Farmers used water from the lake for irrigation. The alternating cycles of flooding and draining of the fields resulted in a heavy run-off of fertilizers and pesticides. Algae blooms ensued and turned the clear waters to a pea-green color. But nutrients were the tip of the iceberg. Two
Superfund sites, located on opposite ends of the lake, have leaked pesticides into the ecosystem since 1979 (Fig. 4).
4. The People the Lake
Fishing was a food source for farm workers and other people in the communities surrounding Lake Apopka. But toxins were stored in the fatty tissue of the fish and workers regularly consumed catfish. A massive die-off of birds finally alerted the people to the dangerous conditions of the lake. Unfortunately, Lake Apopka farm workers had already been exposed for decades to the organochlorine pesticides aldrin, endrin, dieldrin, chlordane, DDT, and toxaphene as they toiled in the fields.3
Fishing was a food source for farm workers and other people in the communities surrounding Lake Apopka. But toxins were stored in the fatty tissue of the fish and workers regularly consumed catfish. A massive die-off of birds finally alerted the people to the dangerous conditions of the lake. Unfortunately, Lake Apopka farm workers had already been exposed for decades to the organochlorine pesticides aldrin, endrin, dieldrin, chlordane, DDT, and toxaphene as they toiled in the fields.3
Fig. 5. Workers process produce near Lake
Apopka3.
Fig. 6. The ‘people of the lake’2.
5. Collateral Damage
Farm workers at Lake Apopka (Figs. 5 and 6) now suffer from life-threatening health problems. Even the children of the people of the lake are suffering. As some of these children approached
puberty, males exhibited abnormal sexual development, which paralleled the effects recorded in wildlife research on the alligators in Lake Apopka. Like the alligators, these boys have
significantly shorter penises than the unexposed boys of the same age.4
Farm workers at Lake Apopka (Figs. 5 and 6) now suffer from life-threatening health problems. Even the children of the people of the lake are suffering. As some of these children approached
puberty, males exhibited abnormal sexual development, which paralleled the effects recorded in wildlife research on the alligators in Lake Apopka. Like the alligators, these boys have
significantly shorter penises than the unexposed boys of the same age.4
6. Restoration Efforts at Lake Apopka
A constructed marsh flow-way system filters nitrogen and phosphorus from Lake Apopka (Fig.7). Water quality has improved since 1995. From 2004 through 2009, the annual average total
phosphorus concentrations in Lake Apopka water during marsh flow-way operating periods averaged 43 percent lower than the baseline period, the algal chlorophyll a concentration
declined 35 percent, and the Secchi transparency improved by 53 percent. Unfortunately, both Superfund sites have been only partially remediated. The EPA periodically monitors the sites2
A constructed marsh flow-way system filters nitrogen and phosphorus from Lake Apopka (Fig.7). Water quality has improved since 1995. From 2004 through 2009, the annual average total
phosphorus concentrations in Lake Apopka water during marsh flow-way operating periods averaged 43 percent lower than the baseline period, the algal chlorophyll a concentration
declined 35 percent, and the Secchi transparency improved by 53 percent. Unfortunately, both Superfund sites have been only partially remediated. The EPA periodically monitors the sites2
Fig. 7. Marsh flow-way nutrient removal system
7. Restoring the Human Community
“… the continuing paradox remains of how the best of intentions of three generations from reclamation, to agricultural prosperity, to wetland restoration continue to stop us from seeing the people of the lake.”
“… the continuing paradox remains of how the best of intentions of three generations from reclamation, to agricultural prosperity, to wetland restoration continue to stop us from seeing the people of the lake.”
Dr. Joseph Siry
8. FOR MORE INFORMATION
References
1.http://myweb.rollins.edu/jsiry/Apopka%20Community%20Partner.html
2.http://floridaswater.com/lakeapopka/history.html
3.Florida A&M University
4.Colborn et al. (1997) Our Stolen Future
St. Johns River Water Management District
http://floridaswater.com/lakeapopka/history.html
Dr. Joseph Siry’s webpages
http://myweb.rollins.edu/jsiry/Lake_Apopka_as_political.htm
http://myweb.rollins.edu/jsiry/Apopka_People-of-the-lake.html
Florida Farm Workers Association
http://apopkaquiltproject.blogspot.com/
References
1.http://myweb.rollins.edu/jsiry/Apopka%20Community%20Partner.html
2.http://floridaswater.com/lakeapopka/history.html
3.Florida A&M University
4.Colborn et al. (1997) Our Stolen Future
St. Johns River Water Management District
http://floridaswater.com/lakeapopka/history.html
Dr. Joseph Siry’s webpages
http://myweb.rollins.edu/jsiry/Lake_Apopka_as_political.htm
http://myweb.rollins.edu/jsiry/Apopka_People-of-the-lake.html
Florida Farm Workers Association
http://apopkaquiltproject.blogspot.com/
Restoration
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