Home – Clear Lakes Foundation

Clean Our Canals

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 01:42:56 +0000

We decided one of our first projects should be cleaning up the weeds and muck on our canals. Thank you to all of the participants who donated for the underwater spray for the weeds in the canals in the Isle of Catalina neighborhood. The home owners have reported that the treatment was successful and they are very happy with being able to navigate up and down their canal again.

Now that the underwater treatments are being applied, don’t forget that the battle is not over. Consider contacting a few of your neighbors to chip in on purchasing “Muck Pellets” and also contributing to adding aerators and for repair of damaged aerators. In the links below are examples of the aerators being used and also the muck pellets being used. These can be found on Amazon.

It will take all of us, contributing a little each, to keep our canals clean.

There is a muck removal process that we are considering. View the video on for an example of how it works. In the next few weeks we will be testing a modified version of this machine to see if we already have the basic machinery to build this type of system.

Water Testing & Maintenance

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 16:23:23 +0000

The location, size, water use, aquatic vegetation coverage and water depth are all factors that can coincide in unique ways to influence the health of the lake. Oftentimes, odor and water color can reveal a lot, however, the unique characteristics of a lake or pond are not always this simple to observe. We work with a professional lake manager tests water quality to capture and analyze the unique attributes that make up your waterbody and uses the data to create a totally customized lake or pond management plan. Many different parameters can be tested, but the basic values are pH, alkalinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, water temperature and nutrient levels. These parameters are of particular importance because they can help identify problem areas, establish a baseline of health for the lake and significantly influence or help shape our management plan.

Waterways testing continues to be done on a monthly basis by volunteers. We need a couple of more volunteers to pitch in. Training is free, you just need a boat and a handheld GPS. Consider volunteering a couple house of your time every month.

We are proud to have Applied Aquatic Management Company as our partner to help us professionally analyze our lake and help develop appropriate treatments, when they are needed.

Fish Conservation

admin — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 15:12:06 +0000

One of our goals is to maintain a balance of native fish in the lake that promotes a healthy level of fish that not only keeps the lake “alive”, but offers a stock of fish to fishermen. Native Fish are important to aquatic ecosystems because healthy fish populations tend to mean a healthier aquatic environment. We do this by keeping the lake waters clean and environmentally friendly to fish and restocking to maintain a natural balance.

Clear Lake’s predominant fish species are Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Crappie, and Bluegill.

The Clear Lake fishing enjoyment and fishing activity are second to none. We work with the City and the County to help service in the community and support several fishing-related projects, thereby enhancing the quality of fishing in Clear Lake for all.

Clear Lake is named as one of The FAB FIVE lakes in Central Florida and is partnered with the City of Orlando to maintain and keep the Lake Stocked with edible fish through FWC’s (Florida Fish and WildLife) Richloam hatchery.

The hatchery is responsible for stocking, maintaining and research of hybrid striped bass. For these reasons Clear Lake is an inspiring project to restore and maintain the beauty of the lake and canals. The foundation adopted Clear Lake as its home base and research project which has enabled the foundation to explore, meet and work with other organizations in the assistance of bringing valuable data to help in the maintenance in the preservation of lakes.

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass are the most popular species pursued by anglers at Clear Lake. Minnow, cricket, and worm fishing are primary for panfish in December, January, and February. Fish minnows with a split shot on the bottom or under slip bobbers.

The pre-spawn bite begins in late February or early March. Plastic worms, swimbaits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits will all work. When the fish go on the beds in the spring, anglers toss out Senkos and various plastics. Summer is the time to fish frogs and topwater lures early and late in the day and jigs deep during the day. When the fall arrives, the bass becomes aggressive, and anglers can fool them with spinnerbaits, rip baits, and various plastics.

Panfish

Black Crappie provides year-round action at Clear Lake. Fish mini-jigs and small minnows around brush and rock piles throughout the year. Use your electronics for fishing bait and schools of crappie.

The added Catfish provide a fun time fishing at the lake. Late spring, summer, and fall, when water temperatures are warm, give the most consistent action. Use live minnows, crayfish, and cut bait along the shoreline.

Bluegill offers excellent fishing in the spring and summer. Toss worms, redworms, and jigs around docks for the panfish.

Carp

While carp is traditionally not an edible fish, the can be great sports fishing. We add Triplold Grass Carp to our lake occasionally to help with aquatic weed control. These carp are are provided by agencies like Solitude Lake Management. The carp are sterilized so the don’t reproduce and become the dominate fish.

Carp Added for Vegetation Control

admin — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 09:58:52 +0000

We have been using Triploid grass carp to help keep our lake weeds and vegetation under control. These fish are unique, olive-green, cigar-shaped fish often observed basking in the sunshine in shallow water as they soak up warm surface temperatures. What sets these fish apart from others is their intense appetite for a wide variety of underwater plant life. If stocked at high enough density, these guys will eat plants faster than the greenery can grow. Many pond owners have witnessed grass carp work wonders, taking choked-out ponds and cleaning them up, restoring beautiful waterways.

Triploid grass carp are considered a natural method for controlling aquatic vegetation and macro-algae. They can live for many years (20 plus years in some cases). Their ability to live long typically makes them significantly more cost-effective than herbicides. One key to success is using sterilized carp so they cannot reproduce and take over the lake. That requires expert lake assessment and experienced lake management by companies like Solitude Lake Management.

For more information, check out the Solitude Lake Management website.