The JL POA Chronicle
The official newsletter of JL POA

Volume 44 - 9/24/2021
IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Using Scientific Data To Keep Our Lake Healthy
  • Jupiter High School Partners with JL on Water Quality
  • Special Assessment Summary
  • Trick or Treat for Doggie Treats
  • Legacy Brick
  • Town of Jupiter Bridge Replacement
  • Next Board Meeting September 28th
USING SCIENTIFIC DATA TO KEEP OUR LAKE HEALTHY

For those of you who have noticed the large amount of plant matter floating in our JL Lake, this information should interest you. 

The strategy being recommended by the scientists to correct this situation will take time to have an impact on the lake, but will ultimately result in a healthier water body/ecosystem. We are asking residents to be patient.

PROBLEM:  More floating plant life in the water created by high levels of nutrients in the lake and the resulting chemical and biological imbalance.

What are nutrients? All plants and algae, like animals, need nutrients (or food) to grow and flourish. Some of these plant nutrients are chemicals such as Phosphorus and Nitrogen that get into our lake water from fertilizers, decaying plants, herbicides, animal waste, etc.  In addition, summer rain and heat have further contributed to ideal conditions for plants and algae to grow and overgrow.

RESULT:  Excessive growth of aquatic weeds and algae that is Tape Grass and floating mats of algae. Tape Grass that is floating is normally beneficial, but due to the high nutrient content of the lakes we have too much of a good thing.

SHORT TERM FIX: Treat with potentially harmful toxic chemicals, which can affect the chemical composition and health of the lake OR more safely remove the plant and algae overgrowth using machines or rakes; a more expensive option.

LONG TERM SOLUTION: Reduce the amount of nutrients in the lake and the chemical and biological imbalances to minimize plant and algae growth.

Some strategies to do this include planting water plants (littorals) to filter nutrients coming from the land so they don’t get into the water; decreasing sources of nutrients such as overuse of phosphates in fertilizers; and using treatments such as Alum to disable much of the phosphate from the water.
These are RECOMMENDED and ultimately will be less expensive options.

To focus on this LONG TERM SOLUTION, the JLPOA, in consultation with the Water Quality Subcommitee, has requested 3 water management companies to demonstrate how they will use scientific data to determine the most effective ways to correct the chemical and biological imbalances and manage and maintain the health of our lake. The bidding and selection process began in September 2021 and will be completed by the end of September. With POA Board approval, the winning bidder will be in place in October 2021 and will begin managing the lake using proven scientific data-based methods to improve both the lake’s appearance and the health of the lake’s ecosystem for the long term.

JUPITER COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
PARTNERS WITH JL ON WATER QUALITY


My name is Zoie Kline. I am currently a senior at Jupiter Community High School. I am a part of the Jupiter Environmental Research and Field Studies Academy (JERFSA).
In this academy we learn about and visit different unique Florida ecosystems. With our environmental interests, we regularly engage with our community. This includes environmental education outreach, monthly volunteering, and research projects.
A few years ago Diane Gustafson, a Jonathan's Landing resident, reached out to JERFSA regarding the potential to collaborate. She expressed that the Jonathan's Landing Community (JLC) was interested in providing opportunities for students to participate in their endeavor to monitor the JLC lake.
The result is a multifaceted project that encompasses social science as well as the classic sciences. For instance, Hailey Fine and Ava Saunders are sending out surveys to determine JLC's willingness to participate in lake management, Lucia Gonzales is analyzing algal species to determine if deadly microcystins are identifiable, Natalie Price is identifying micro flora and fauna to qualify the health of the lake ecosystem, and along with a group of JLC residents, Matthew Andersen and I are performing a chemical monitoring that encompasses fourteen sites and seven parameters. 
For the past 6 months we have been recording information on the health of the surface water system.

As landscape management directly affects your source water, we can assist in the determination of the impact of local landscaping by running monthly tests on the surface water quality. 
Our teacher, Dr. Thornton, has worked with us throughout the entire project guiding and teaching us how to properly perform our research in order to be QA/QC (quality assurance and quality control) and to aspire to be professionally published.
With her membership in the American Water Resources Association, she has encouraged us to participate in the Annual Water Research Conference this coming November 2021. There we will have the opportunity to discuss our data with other scientists who have worked on or are performing similar research and obtain assistance to improve our research.
We are excited to expand our understanding on the subject and participate in this national event.

Thank you to the entire Jonathan's Landing community. This opportunity has allowed us to further understand aquatic ecosystems and what affects them. We have also learned valuable skills on conducting research that will help us in our future education and career. 



JL POA LEGACY BRICKS

You can purchase a $100 Legacy Brick in memoriam to be placed in the entrance of South Rec and Butterfly Island and along the path in between. Please mail or drop off your check and form to JL POA, 3755 Barrow Island Road, Jupiter FL 33477.

The money from the brick sales will be used to help keep Butterfly Island flourishing.
Upcoming Open Houses on the U.S. 1 Bridge Replacement Project
 
Get the latest information about the U.S. 1 Bridge Replacement Project by attending one of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) open houses next week.

FDOT will host an in-person as well as a virtual open house to provide information to the public and answer any questions. Project documents will be available at the meeting and online here. 

The virtual open house will be held on Tuesday, September 28 from 5:00 - 6:30 pm. Residents can register for the meeting here or call in at 1-866-952-8437, access code 760-767-358.

The in-person open house will be held on Wednesday, September 29 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Jupiter Community Center, 200 Military Trail.
REMINDER - NEXT BOARD MEETING: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH AT 9:00 AM. PLEASE SEE BELOW "CLICK HERE FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS" FOR ZOOM LINK ON OUR WEBSITE

Do you have questions about anything happening at the JLPOA or ideas for articles?
Email us at staff@jlpoa.com and we will respond within 48 hrs.