OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Osceola County is taking aim at invasive aquatic plants in Lake Tohopekaliga, deploying specialized equipment to clear vegetation from the northern part of the lake.
The effort is designed to improve water quality, stormwater flow, and recreational access on one of Central Florida’s most popular fishing destinations.
Stephen Foster makes regular trips to Lake Toho to cast a line. He said he has noticed how overgrowth affects the experience on the water.
“I can’t imagine the fishermen going out in their boats because the average depth here, I think is only like 10 feet, something like that, 10 to 12ft in this lake,” Foster said. “So, any vegetation that grows up from the bottom, from it being so shallow, it can really bog down the boats.”
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The vegetation removal is funded by a $1.3 million grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the state’s lead agency for environmental management, in partnership with Osceola County. Specialized machines will clear invasive plants while encouraging native wildlife to flourish.
The county says the work will not impact private docks, seawalls or other structures along the lake.
For anglers like Derek Church, the project is welcome news.
“I think it’d be good for everyone who loves the fish out here catching bass,” Church said. “So, I think it’d be a good thing for them to do that.”
Work on the lake is expected to continue through October.