Highlights
- Largest natural lake in Hillsborough County with a surface area of greater than 800 acres
- Popular for recreational use as it is one of the few natural lakes in the area with public access
- Discharges into the Hillsborough River which is used for municipal water supply for the City of Tampa
Challenges
Four main challenges exist in the Lake Thonotosassa watershed:
- Nutrient loadings from the watershed have caused extreme nutrient-enrichment resulting in algal blooms
- Decline in habitat quality and species diversity
- Increased abundance of non-native plant species
- Decline in the abundance of desirable sport fish
Strategies
Through cooperation with other government agencies, these challenges are met by:
- Reducing nutrient loadings through recently completed stormwater improvement projects
- Maintaining a regular maintenance schedule for controlling exotic plants within new project areas
- Enhancing wetland and aquatic habitats
- Increasing public education and awareness of stormwater pollution prevention and the importance of water quality and wetlands
Success indicators
Successful project implementation is indicated by:
- Meeting pollutant reduction goals for nutrients and chlorophyll-a
- Increase in water clarity
- Increase in eelgrass bed coverage and other aquatic vegetation
Future goals are then developed through an adaptive management process, always striving to help restore Florida’s natural ecosystems.
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