Lake County extends timeline for Tavares stormwater pond, eyes Lake Joanna filtration project

Lake County extends timeline for Tavares stormwater pond, eyes Lake Joanna filtration projectDelays caused by an eagle's nest and federal permitting prompted a three-month extension for the North St Clair Abrams Treatment Pond, as the Authority also approved new aquatic harvesting equipment.

The Board approved a three-month extension for the City of Tavares' North St Clair Abrams Treatment Pond, a $753,910 project receiving $376,955 in Authority grant funding.

Construction on the wet detention pond began June 5, 2026, and is expected to remove 52 kg/yr of nitrogen and 14 kg/yr of phosphorus from Lake Eustis inflows.

The Authority amended its budget to allocate $210,000 for a new aquatic harvester and a replacement field operations truck.

Trustees discussed the potential acquisition of property adjacent to Lake Joanna to serve as a dry pond and natural stormwater filtration system for subdivision runoff.

The Lake County Water Authority (LCWA) Board of Trustees approved a three-month extension for a grant agreement with the City of Tavares to complete the North St Clair Abrams Treatment Pond project during its July 22, 2026, meeting. The stormwater improvement project, which involves the construction of a wet detention pond in the northern section of the city, aims to treat runoff in the Community Redevelopment Area before it reaches Lake Eustis. The facility is designed to remove 52 kilograms of nitrogen and 14 kilograms of phosphorus annually. The LCWA is funding 50% of the $753,910 project, contributing $376,955. The timeline extension was requested after the project faced delays due to its proximity to an eagle's nest and a prolonged permitting process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. With the federal permit issued on May 20, 2026, construction officially commenced on June 5. In addition to the Tavares project, the Board unanimously approved a $210,000 budget amendment to fund the purchase of a new aquatic harvester and a field operations truck to support the Authority's aquatic vegetation management responsibilities. The equipment purchase reallocates existing funds within the fiscal year 2026 budget without increasing the total adopted budget. Looking ahead, the Board signaled interest in expanding its stormwater filtration assets. During board member comments, trustees discussed the potential acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to Lake Joanna. According to a trustee, the property could function as a dry pond to capture and naturally filter stormwater runoff from a nearby subdivision before it enters the lake. The potential acquisition is currently under preliminary review by the county's public lands committee, with the possibility of a matching funding arrangement between the county and the LCWA.