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COURSE INFO PROVIDER: SWSPCP Webinar
COURSE TITLE: Restoring Lake Apopka � Water Quality, Wetlands, Water, and Wildlife

INSTRUCTORS Erich Marzolf, Ph.D.

COURSE DESCRIPTION Restoration of Lake Apopka and Surrounding Wetlands
Erich Marzolf, Ph.D.

ABSTRACT
Lake Apopka, central Florida’s original tourist attraction, has been threatened over the decades by floodplain loss, excessive nutrient and organochlorine pesticide pollution, and multi-year droughts. The St. Johns River Water Management District has been working to address each of these threats to the lake’s health. In response the lake’s water quality and habitat conditions have improved substantially. In addition, the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive offers visitors an opportunity to see a portion of the recovering wetlands and lake on the formerly farmed north shore of the lake. This talk will cover past, current and planned future efforts to restore this 50,000-acre ecosystem.

BIO
Dr. Erich Marzolf is the Director of the Division of Water and Land Resources, where he oversees the Bureaus of Water Resources, Water Resource Information and Land Resources. From 1994 to 2012 he was a District scientist, working on lake, river, wetland and spring restoration projects. In 1999 he began working on the Lake Apopka program as a supervising environmental scientist overseeing portions of restoration program. Erich earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of California Davis where he studied subalpine lake ecology. Prior to joining the District Erich was a scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Credit Points: 0.06

SYLLABUS/TOPICAL OUTLINE 1) Natural and cultural history of Lake Apopka, central Florida, USA; and factors leading to degradation of the lake’s water quality and natural communities (15 minutes); 2) Current lake, and adjacent wetland, restoration efforts implemented by the St. Johns River Water Management District (15 minutes); 3) Results of restoration efforts, creation of recreational opportunities, and future plans (15 miniutes); 4) Questions & Answers (15 minutes).

COURSE CONTACT

Louis Mantini
9225 CR 49, Live Oak, FL 32025
lfm@srwmd.org
P: 386.362.3144
F:

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