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Posted By:
Dan Nickens
Date Posted:
Jul 26, 2020
Description:
Central Florida has lots of great lakes. Not all of them are
natural. Some of the lakes are just old mine ponds that
have been repurposed. Instead of more flat, grassy fields,
who wouldn't wantlots of lakefront properties? Instead of
house lots, though, this oldmine has been converted to
recreational use. It is in the TenorocPublic Use Area, also
known as a state fish management area,
operated by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission. I was
temptedto test them out, but figured I better check with
Russ first for localinformation. Russ' advice: watch out for
the giant alligators. The FWC web site also notes there are
"boating quota restrictions." Not sure if that applies to
flying boats.
Date Taken:
May 31, 2020
Place Taken:
South of Polk City, FL
Owner:
Dan Nickens
File Name:
Intricate Waterways 4672.jpg - Photo HTML
Full size - <img src="/show.php?splash=7f92cubZLh">
Medium - <img src="/show.php?splash=7f92cubZLm">
Thumbnail - <img src="/show.php?splash=7f92cubZLs">
Category:
Florida Flying
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Click on photo to view the original size. |
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Read what others had to say:
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Imagine what the dredgers would think if they'd known their work would end up in a park.
Fisherpeople report the lakes are full of large bass. The FWC web site did not mention the large
alligators reported by Russ. Marketing, I'd reckon.
| | Attachments:
Manicured Shoreline 4676
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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The audacious Florida Polytechnic University IST (Innovation, Science & Technology) Building designed
by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava really stands out in between the strange lakes.
| | Attachments:
Strange Science 4663
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Not all the mine ponds have been reclaimed. The slime stored in these ponds (known as
"clay settling ponds" in industry jargon) may not solidify for decades. That's a big storage problem
for the mining companies, occupying about forty percent of the mined area, with no hope of quick
restoration after the mining ends.
A typical phosphate mine uses 100,000 gallons of water per minute. The water contains three to
five percent solids when it sent to the ponds for dewatering. As the clay slowly settles, the clear
water is reused in the mining process. Since the settling process is so slow (three to five years for
an upper crust to form with 50% solids, and more like fifty years to become something more than
gelatinous muck), there are huge impoundments hundreds of feet high doting the landscape.
Once upon a time phosphate mines routinely had "accidental" failures of the surface impoundments.
The toxic mix of slime, phosphoric acid and radioactive minerals (uranium, radium and radon) would
inundate nearby streams and rivers. One failure in 1971 caused a five foot high tsunami that
inundated the surrounding land with two million gallons of slime. The Florida Department of
Environmental Regulation said, "No more" and slapped them with million dollar fines. A regulation
was enacted that made the phosphate companies "engineer" the impoundment dams. It was
a miracle. No more of the regular slimy disasters.
There are still "irregular" releases of the slime. In 1997 heavy rains resulted in a 46 million gallon
spill into the Alafia River, killing critters over the 42 mile stretch reaching to Hillsborough Bay. Back
in 2004 a series of hurricanes blew a breach in one sending 65 million gallons into the bay. Then
there are the occasional sinkholes that open up under the ponds, sucking them dry. It's hard to
maintain slime buckets even applying engineering.
This slime pond looked pretty well contained, but definitely not ready for recreational SeaReying.
| | Attachments:
Unreclaimed 4677
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Some of the old dredge ponds have a tidal appearance, or at least water lines. Either way it would
make it nicer parking for SeaReys rather than the typical thick, snake infested vegetation.
| | Attachments:
Not Tidal 4682
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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So the water line had definitely retreated, exposing the fish beds (tilapia holes according to Jon, but
I'm thinking "alligator holes" is a more dramatic, even if inaccurate, description).
| | Attachments:
Outlined Shore 4683
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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It seems some of the mile tailings have been made into park paths with exercise huts? Something to
appease the mine neighbors? Maybe. I was on a mission to fly, so I didn't stop to inspect.
| | Attachments:
Park Huts 4689
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Back in the real world, or at least the presently un-mined world, the swampy shallow rivers have a
more lovely, natural look. Myakka River State Park
| | Attachments:
Shallow Channel 4700
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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A delta is obvious where the river runs into the inky black swamp water stained with tannic acid. Lake
Myakka is said to be off limits to seaplanes, but I saw a small boat out on it. Maybe a park boat. I
didn't stop to investigate. Really. I didn't. Stop.
| | Attachments:
Delta Spread 4704
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Jon Ladd - Jul 26,2020
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There is a boat ramp at Myakka State Park. Jane and I recently kayaked the upper portion. Saw lots of air traffic overhead leaving
Venice possibly.
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Overhead. Not on the water. (Just saying.)
It looked beautiful from the air. How was it “from water level”?
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Jon Ladd - Jul 26,2020
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It was nice except when the tourist boat was out. The guide was scaring the Yankees about all the gators and the Folks were
concerned about those kayakers safety.
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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The Myakka river has a beautifully irregular course between the upper and lower lakes.
| | Attachments:
Shrinking River 4711
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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The Lower Myakka Lake has a delta similar to the upper lake. Since the same dynamic processes are
at work, I suppose that's predictable.
| | Attachments:
Delta Stretch 4719
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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From the perspective of a fishing expert, Jon can talk all he wants about tilapia holes, but careful
examination of this one clearly makes it an alligator hole.
| | Attachments:
Pond Breach 4727
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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The shoreline shows a gradation in color and vegetation. An earlier shoreline was pretty clearly higher.
Must be dry season. Here, anyway. Other places a few miles away, not so much.
| | Attachments:
Layered Shoreline 4733
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Out on the coast at Boca Grande it was a pretty nice morning to be above the beach.
| | Attachments:
Coastal Morning 4746
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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It looks to be a long way to Mexico from Florida by SeaRey.
| | Attachments:
Long View 4736
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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A hint of manatees is all the camera could catch where the Myakka River meets Charlotte Harbor.
Because of nearby boaters (probably with cameras and a low tolerance for seaplanes), I didn't linger
trying to get a better picture from down low.
| | Attachments:
Grazers 4767
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Signs of manatee were much clearer along the Caloosahatchee River.
| | Attachments:
Manatee Spot 4787
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Inland at Cape Coral there was some evidence that the water level had been low enough for some
serious four wheeling. It might be better with an airboat now, but not quite deep enough to be
attractive to SeaReys.
| | Attachments:
Crossroads 4777
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Heading north on the Kissimmee River it is apparent the Corpse of Engineers is busy undoing what it
did so expensively in the past: making a river from a canal.
| | Attachments:
Reverse Engineering 4813
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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Though it seems to me the Corpse should have to pay for restoration out of its budget instead of just
getting a bunch more taxpayer dollars to fix its mess, I do admit they have done good work: the
new/old river looks a lot better than the canal.
| | Attachments:
Filled In 4817
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Dan Nickens - Jul 26,2020
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In some places the old canal is almost natural looking these days. Makes it bit tougher for seaplanes,
but more worthwhile for sightseeing when you do set down on it in SeaRey.
| | Attachments:
Side by Side 4916
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Dave Edward - Jul 27,2020
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Dang it Dan ! How do you always manage to educate us in such
a picturesque way ? Thanks again.
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Dan Nickens - Jul 27,2020
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Now, Dave, over our long association I'd wager I've learned more about the important stuff from you than vice versa. Anyway, if
some of this local trivia is news to you, it is my pleasure.
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Wayne Nagy - Jul 27,2020
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Dan, You were in my neck off the woods... Boca Grande, Caloosahatchee River and my home town Cape Coral. While I was driving
through your neck of the woods... Howie in the Hills with my wife On Saturday! Let me know next time you are headed my way.
Lunch is on me!
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Dan Nickens - Jul 27,2020
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That would be great, Wayne. Most of my missions are extemporaneous. One of these days, though, I'll come up with a plan and will
coordinate lunch here or there. (Probably when the afternoon thunderstorms take a season off!)
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