APOPKA, Fla. — A new $1 million effort that began last week to improve pollution levels in Lake Apopka cold prompt more tax dollars to be spent to draw tourism.
The group behind the effort is using hoses and 96 diffusers to create bubbles on the lake that will eliminate nitrates, phosphate and muck.
Video: More efforts to clean up Lake Apopka
“You can see the air in that bubble field was clean,” said Jay Barfield of Allied Group.
Barfield said the compressed air being used by his company will breathe life back into one of central Florida’s largest resources.
“Everybody wants to see this lake restored. There used to be 28 fish camps on this lake; zero now. The lake’s too dirty,” he said.
The pilot project could prompt another $1 million to be spent improving the lake’s Magnolia Park.
“We’re hoping to bring in airboats. We’re looking at bike rentals. We’re talking about being able to rent binoculars. We’ve even had calls from float plane operators,” Commissioner Bryan Nelson said.
Nelson said that in an effort make Lake Apopka an ecotourism destination, he will push for $1 million in the county’s budget to build new bathrooms, a ticket stand and better parking.
“It’s 30 minutes from the back of Disney to Magnolia Park, so people want to come and do those types of things, but they don’t want to spent half a day getting there,” Nelson said.
He hopes that with the dual efforts, Lake Apopka can return to its glory, and visitors will return too.
Allied Group officials said it will take 60 days to start seeing some improvements.
The pilot program is initially focused on 250 acres.
Allied Group said it has had success in other lakes and hopes to expand through the entire body of Lake Apopka.
WFTV
