Lake Apopka emerging from “Dead Lake” stigma

For decades farms, citrus and sewage plants poured their wastewater into Lake Apopka until it finally could take no more. The one-time pristine bass-fishing hot spot turned into a devastated eco-system that fish could no longer thrive in.

But in the last 30 years, time, effort and money has been spent in an attempt to restore Lake Apopka to its original condition. Significant strides have been made to return the lake to a healthy water body. Former muck farms built on original lake marshes have been purchased and restoration projects begun, a marsh flow-way system has been constructed to improve water quality.

“I go back to the days when my grandfather came to fish from South Carolina,” said County Commissioner Bryan Nelson. “Someday, my grandson, who is 18-months-old, may fish here like my grandfather once did. We look forward to the potential of this lake.”

And the diagnosis is that Lake Apopka is on the mend, so healthy in fact that the FWC is pushing one million chips into the pot in the form of largemouth bass to raise its bet on Lake Apopka’s success to create an environment where fish can again flourish.