SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Hundreds of dead fish and several turtles were discovered in a pond being drained at a construction site in Seminole County, prompting concerns from nearby residents about environmental impacts and lingering odors.
A community member contacted News 6 after noticing a strong smell and large numbers of dead fish in a pond near the intersection of State Road 46 and Harvest Time Drive. The pond is part of a property approved for development.
“I noticed vultures surrounding the area,” said Julia Nikulina, who said she drove past the site on New Year’s Day and pulled over to investigate. “The smell was overwhelming. It was horrible.”
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Nikulina said she was shocked by what she found.
“It was sad, and I was shocked that happened right in the middle of everything and nobody tried to stop it or do something about it,” she said.
Residents living nearby said the odor from decaying fish has been difficult to tolerate.
“I’m speechless. No words for that one,” said Sergio Wilcox, who lives in the area.
Seminole County officials confirmed the pond was drained as part of an approved construction permit. According to the county, the water from the pond drains into the stormwater system and ultimately flows into the St. Johns River.
The county provided News 6 with a copy of the approved permit for the project, which includes dewatering the pond. A study referenced in the permit describes the pond as having “low ecological quality.” County officials said the developers also received approval from the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Seminole County also said the fish likely died due to a combination of low water levels and cold weather conditions last week. The county added it had “considerable coordination with the owner and contractor about the dewatering.”
The approved plans show the property is slated for the construction of an auto collision center. County officials said the developer also plans to construct another pond elsewhere on the property.
Despite the approvals, Nikulina said she and others in the area remain opposed to draining the pond, saying it once supported wildlife.
“There used to be so much vegetation,” she said. “Ducks used to come and go, all different birds, and one day the vegetation was gone.”
News 6 reached out to the project applicant for comment but have not received a response as of publication.