The image above is what Lake Munson needlessly looks like today since November, 2022 and Leon County wishes it to remain until April, 2024! The goal was to drawdown the lake and reduce the amount of Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorous (TP), the main nutrient culprits of toxic Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB). But, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) 2011 Lake Munson Drawdown Report (for the lake's last) indicated neither TN nor TP would be reduced sufficiently and recommended other "more aggressive" measures be considered. That's why one of the Petition's points is for Leon County to request a Request for Information (RFI) from (my opinion) 5-10 experience lake restoration dredging companies.
Going forward, THANK YOU for signing the petition! I am averaging over 100 signatures per week, many of which are from you SHARING the petition to friends, relatives, and associates: (https://www.change.org/RestoreLakeMunson) please keep on sharing!
As of yesterday, we passed the 300 signature mark and heading toward the 500 milestone. At that point (and when we reach other milestones), City and County commissioners and staff are notified of this progress and provided a copy of this petition.
As we move forward, other topics will be brought to your attention which will enhance the importance of this petition, such as:
-why is a City of Tallahassee storm water toxic sediment disposal site and former large unlined trash dump located mere feet north of Lake Munson? According to one of our retired FDEP executive experts, a permit for this site is no where to be found!
-why does FDEP's 2019 Sediment Study and the city's consultant's (Terracon) response study differ by a factor of 10 FOLD in the amount of sediment on the Lake Munson lake bed? Thus, a ten fold difference in the potential cost to remove toxic contaminants and HAB causing nutrients (approximately, $5 Million vs $50 Million!).
-Why did the City's same consultant (Terracon) oppose water quality testing north of Lake Munson to determine the actual sources of contaminants and nutrients? Yet, is apparently a leading consultant for the City's newly announced Lake Bradford Road Brownfield Project, yes, NORTH of Lake Munson. A project intended to identify and remove contaminants and nutrients!
THANK YOU for listening and please keep on sharing the petition: (https://www.change.org/RestoreLakeMunson
LASTLY, please consider joining the Advocacy Group's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/412536726345011
where additional issues of concern (Sewage spills, FDEP/EPA Consent Orders, water quality tests, etc. are discussed)
J. Terry Ryan- Co-Founder of Tallahassee Sewage and Wakulla Basin Advocacy Group