Flash! From the state that dried up Lake Okeechobee, another gem of a lake is about to go the way of her sister. Lake Swan, a premier clear water lake in West Putnam County Florida, and long time summer residence for many old Gainesville and Jacksonville families, is on its last gasp from a combination of environmental factors, but now hastened by the greed of Jacksonville water consumers. The lake is declining at a rate of 5-10 linear feet per week and at this rate will be a collection of ponds by this time next year. Jacksonville’s JEA, Jacksonville Electric Authority, the public utility for vast Duval County asked for and received permission to draw off 184,000,000 – yes folks that’s 184 MILLION-gallons of water per day from the aquifer. So, you see folks Lake Swan doesn’t stand a chance. But we shouldn’t be too surprised-after all look what was allowed to happen to Lake Okeechobee.
Lake Swan is in very good company because the much larger Lake Santa Fe, just two miles down the road is also at alarming low water levels for the same reason. All throughout this region lakes have dried up due to expanded water usage locally and by neighboring metropolitan areas. Once these lakes are gone they will never return in the state they were previously.
Among other insults to Lake Swan this year was acidic pollution from the fires in Georgia and Florida. For weeks smoke hung over and ash fell on the lake. Where this smoke came into contact with the water a stringy substance was created,hanging in the water until rain came and it finally sank to the lake bottom. Now there is a slimy residue on the lake bottom. Minnows which were plentiful during spring of this year are no longer seen because there is no grass in the water. People are walking and driving ATV’s around the lake further damaging the lake bottom and impacting the minute springs that bubble up when water levels are higher.
When the lake dries up there will be no more reason to live here than any other ‘burb.
