At its September meeting in Duck Key, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule amendments creating a block grant option within the already established FWC derelict vessel and public nuisance vessel removal grant program.

In collaboration with city and county partners, the FWC Boating and Waterways Section proposed the block grant funding option within the existing program to allow an additional reimbursement option for ongoing vessel removals in areas that remove a substantial number of DVs annually.

The amendment to the guidelines and application will allow block grant funding to be awarded to eligible governments based on the removal data from prior years. Local municipalities will be paid from those funds upon submission of documentation of the removal of eligible vessels. Busy governments will no longer have to wait to apply in advance for each vessel removal project, which should result in less red tape and a quicker removal process.

“Our goal is to keep improving our waterways by removing as many DVs as possible,” said Maj. Bill Holcomb, FWC Boating and Waterways Section Leader. “This amendment will allow local governments that have DV removal experience and are familiar with the process an option to remove these vessels more efficiently. They can remove eligible DVs and submit for reimbursement from their awarded block grant.”

The new rule will streamline the DV removal process, reducing the potential environmental impact and overall removal costs associated with derelict vessels that remain deteriorating in the state's waters.

AUBURNDALE – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Van - end of Lake Van Road. The alert is in response to a water sample taken on September 11, 2024. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Van - end of Lake Van Road.

See prior notices below

August 23, 2024

AUBURNDALE – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Van - end of Lake Van Road.

The alert is in response to a water sample taken on August 20, 2024.

The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Van - end of Lake Van Road.

August 5, 2024

AUBURNDALE – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Van - end of Lake Van Road. The alert is in response to a water sample taken on July 30, 2024. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Van - end of Lake Van Road.

DOH-Polk advises residents and visitors to take the following precautions:

• Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercrafts, or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom.
• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have any contact with algae, or discolored or water that smells unpleasant.
• Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid any contact with water. Waters where algae blooms are present are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should use an alternative source of water when algae blooms are present.
• Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate toxins.
• Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts, and cook fish thoroughly.
• Do not eat shellfish from waters with algae blooms.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and partners collect algae samples (link opens in new window) from reported bloom locations. After samples are analyzed at their laboratory, the toxin results can be viewed on Protecting Florida Together (link opens in new window) or on DEP’s Algal Bloom Dashboard (link opens in new window).

The City of Lakeland Parks Division will be on Lake Morton at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, for the 44th Annual Swan Roundup. Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts employees will be carefully gathering the swans by boat to get them ready for their annual veterinary check-up. The swans will be confined in large holding pens on the south side of the lake for their annual wellness examinations with My Pet’s Animal Hospital that will start the morning of October 9, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. The Annual Swan Round-Up allows the City’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department to closely monitor the health and vitality of Lakeland’s swan population.

The original swans on Lake Morton were donated by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 1957. As Lakeland’s swan flock grew, it became paramount to give the regal birds an annual health check, so the Swan Roundup began in 1980 and has continued every year since then. The swans were first cared for by veterinarian (emeritus) and original Swanvet W.G. Gardner. Dr. Patricia Mattson oversaw the birds for several years and now My Pet’s Animal Hospital contributes their expertise in caring for Lakeland’s swan flock. It is important to know that My Pet’s Animal Hospital gives back to the community by donating their veterinary services year-round as today’s official Swanvet for the City of Lakeland.