Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Project

Updated Photos 5/17/2005

On January 30, 2004 Sumter County and The Southwest Florida Water Management District celebrated the beginning of the dredging phase of the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration project with a dedication ceremony on Friday, January 30, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony was held in Lake Panasoffkee, at the dredge disposal site off of C.R. 482 South.

Dignitaries and local residents were among the crowd of about 150 people that anxiously awaits the restoration of the lake. John W. Springstead, Chairman of the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council introduced visiting dignitaries, Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council members and County and State officials. The welcome was given by David L. Moore, (Executive Director of South West Florida Water Management District) and Talmadge G. "Jerry" Rice, (Governing Board member and Chair Ex Officio of the Withlacoochee River Basin Board). Other speakers were the Honorable Hugh H. Gibson III, Florida House of Representatives, and The Honorable Joey Chandler, Sumter County Board of County Commissioners. The Honorable Everett A. Kelly, Florida House of Representatives (1978-2000), who was strongly involved with the project, shared with the crowd some of his fishing stories on Lake Panasoffkee.

The dredging phase

The Lake Panasoffkee Restoration dredging phase is underway. The project will improve fish habitat, restore the historic lake shoreline, and improve navigation by dredging approximately 8.4 million cubic yards of sediment from the lake and removing 920 acres of emergent vegetation.

The dredging of the Lake will remove sediment down to hard bottom in the historic fish spawning areas that are located along the Western and North Eastern shorelines. The restoration project will also create improved water habitat and restore the historic eastern and southern shorelines of the third largest lake in the west central Florida area.

Please click here to see the map that shows the dredging limits for Step 2 and Step 3 (note, this is a large graphic file and may be slow to display). Dredging will start at the southern extension of Step 3 and proceed northward along the western shoreline to Step 2. Then the contractor will dredge Step 2 prior to proceeding with Step 3.

Canals along Lake Panasoffkee are scheduled to be cleaned. Sumter County is working with the Army Corp of Engineers to obtain all of the permits needed for cleaning of the canals and is under the final permitting stages. They should be receiving the final permits in April or May.

The Lake Panasoffkee Restoration project is becoming a great success. The project began in January 1998 and is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2007. We look forward to seeing a dramatic increase of fishing and recreation on Lake Panasoffkee as this project comes to an end.

Please continue to check the website for updated pictures as this project continues.

Click here to see a Photo Album of the ceremony and the beginning stages of the project.

Update 7/12/2004: Dredging began Thursday 7/8/2004. The county is continuing work to obtain permits for cleaning of the canals.

Dredging

Pumping Mud

Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite Reps regular schedule in Sumter County

Representatives for Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite will be meeting with citizens at The Villages Government Annex, 8033 East CR 466, Lady Lake the First Thursday of every month, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

Please contact (352) 799-8354 for additional information.