Josh Possick, 23, of St. Petersburg, sits where water once was and where he once wake boarded. Now all that’s left is sand.
Photo by CHRISTINE DAILEY
The measuring stick shows the depth of the lake near Park Boulevard.
SEMINOLE – The draining of Lake Seminole has caused frustrations and limitations for many businesses and recreational users of the lake.
“The lake is currently at 2 to 2.5 feet in depth,” said Kelli Hammer Levy, the county’s environmental program coordinator. “And it will begin refilling March 31.”
With Lake Seminole having to be drained for several months, the income to small businesses has been depleted.
“I closed my ski rental company the first week of January, yet my bills keep pilling up with no income to speak of,” said Edward Morea, of Largo, owner of West Coast Water Sports.
Even though boats and personal watercraft are allowed on the lake, it doesn’t mean that the machines will perform well enough nor safe enough for a rider to enjoy.
“I run an instructional wakeboarding business, primarily off Lake Seminole, but with the draining taking place I can no longer coach,” said Tim Jones of Palmetto. “There is not enough water to support my boat nor create a wake for my students to play on.”
To be able to create a wake for a skier to ski behind, the boat motor must have access to enough water to pull from the bottom. The loss of water in Lake Seminole has caused wake boarders and skiers to lose their entire off-season practices on their home lake.
“This project has forced me to drive as far as Sarasota just to drop my boat in for a simple half hour practice. The effortless act used to only take me an hour. Now it takes at least a half a day,” said Josh Possick of St. Petersburg.
But Levy said the affects of the draining are important.
“For the short-term inconvenience, the long-term affects will benefit everyone,” she said.
The draining will improve water quality, flood control, and vegetative habitat in the lake.
“I don’t understand how it works and the way the government is doing it; however, I do think it’s good,” said Morea.
“I’m glad they’re cleaning our lake because who wants to go wakeboarding in a retention pond? I just wish it didn’t take so long,” said Possick.
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