South Florida Pond And Canal Management, And Questions By An Ignoramus

[hawgenvy]

In my home town, Boca Raton, Florida, there are at least several hundred man-made canals, ponds, and small lakes. The lakes and ponds are mostly residential, in golf courses, or in parks. Virtually of these bodies of water were dug for drainage and for collecting soil to build up the adjacent areas for homes, golf courses, commercial areas, etc. A lot of Boca Raton used to be everglades that was reclaimed for human use. Of the hundreds of bodies of freshwater in Boca Raton, I don't believe any of them are natural. Some of the larger canals may have boat ramp access. Virtually none of the ponds or lakes are large enough or suitable for bass boats. In my estimation, probably every body of fresh water in Boca Raton has bass. Almost all are amenable to shore fishing, though many are private and accessible only to members of the surrounding community or golf course. The vast majority of these, if you toss in a bait when they are feeding, will result in a bass on the line.

 

Many of the canals intersect, many can stretch for miles, and many connect by underground pipes to nearby lakes or ponds. The lakes and ponds typically have pipes that connect to other lakes and ponds. I believe vast networks of suburban bodies of water are connected in this way. There are also dams, spillways, valves, and pumping stations that the South Florida Water Management District uses to control water levels in response to seasonal variation, rainfall amounts, storms, and for other factors beyond my knowledge.

 

When a residential or other lake is dug, it is stocked with a particular balance of fish species to try to make it a viable ecosystem for mosquito larva control and for other reasons. Fish eggs also arrive on the legs of wading birds. Triploid (nonbreeding/sterile) carp are put in for weed control. Overgrowth of vegetation is also controlled by harvesting and chemical herbicides.

 

I would like to know if there are legal guidelines for how the private lakes are managed. What are the rules? Does management of these bodies also have as an aim maintaining a viable bass fishery? Who manages these lakes and how are they monitored? What species are stocked and how often? Are the lake managers doing a good job? How do we know? What kind of chemicals are used for weed control? How polluted are these waters? How safe or dangerous is it to eat the fish from them (some folks do fish the lakes and canals for food)? Are there local biologists that are involved in helping to manage the public and private ponds?

 

Living here and fishing here, I am eager to learn more about my local fresh waters, and would like suggestions or links to learn more on this subject. So any of you that can point me towards a source of knowledge, please do so.

 

(I am not much interested in unsubstantiated opinions on the matter, however.)

 

This map is from just the northwest quadrant of Boca Raton.

 

[Joedodge]

Wow excellent question. I've wondered the same. Always wondered how the bass get in these ponds.

[shallow thinker]

See if you can get in touch with Kelly Gestring.  He is a biologist with FWC.  Until recently, he was director of the non native species lab in Boca (until the State closed the lab to make way for the new I95 exit at Spanish River Road).  Kelly is the specialist with non native freshwater fish and shows up on his personal time to attend tournament weigh ins.    I've chatted with him about all the canals and how different fish come to populate the system.

 

In terms of private ponds I know that homeowners associations spend lots of $$ on weed control (chemicals and sterile grass carp) but I have never heard of any that stock or manage the fish population.

[hawgenvy]

See if you can get in touch with Kelly Gestring.  He is a biologist with FWC.  Until recently, he was director of the non native species lab in Boca (until the State closed the lab to make way for the new I95 exit at Spanish River Road).  Kelly is the specialist with non native freshwater fish and shows up on his personal time to attend tournament weigh ins.    I've chatted with him about all the canals and how different fish come to populate the system.

 

In terms of private ponds I know that homeowners associations spend lots of $$ on weed control (chemicals and sterile grass carp) but I have never heard of any that stock or manage the fish population.

Thanks for the tip, Shallow! I'll follow the lead.

[AVIDBF2015]

I live in Boca too, Been fishing a lot out there. Ive been hitting south county regional park, trying to imrove my angler skills cause its a body of water not similar to a lot of florida, of course man made. Its very clear water, lots of rocks on the bottom with Tall weeds that reach the surface. Its also pretty big, you can even have a mini bass boat on it. There are also jet skis, and tubing etc. There are big bass out there in that lake but ive been only getting the ones under 3lbs. Need more work on that lake, water/canal like that wraps around the main lake is different water, its darker-greener and more vegetation. Ive had good success in that part as well. Anyone fish at south county before?

[AVIDBF2015]

And I agree, a lot of controlled with Chemicals. quite a few lakes here have VERY big carp.

[hawgenvy]

I live in Boca too, Been fishing a lot out there. Ive been hitting south county regional park, trying to imrove my angler skills cause its a body of water not similar to a lot of florida, of course man made. Its very clear water, lots of rocks on the bottom with Tall weeds that reach the surface. Its also pretty big, you can even have a mini bass boat on it. There are also jet skis, and tubing etc. There are big bass out there in that lake but ive been only getting the ones under 3lbs. Need more work on that lake, water/canal like that wraps around the main lake is different water, its darker-greener and more vegetation. Ive had good success in that part as well. Anyone fish at south county before?

That big lake by the Osprey golf course? I've been meaning to try fishing there from the bank but haven't gotten around to it. I think you can go in from Glades Rd.? I once tried a pond in the more northern part of the park near Kimberly Rd, where there was lots of vegetation but  the fish were tiny dinks, and access difficult due to tall grass and bushes at the shore.  I got scared off after I saw two cottonmouths at the water's edge and I was wearing light sneakers. Maybe I'll go check out that bigger lake over the weekend. Thanks!

[AVIDBF2015]

Yes, Take Glades and pass 441, keep going all the way down and you will see the entrance on the left. You will see the first pond on the left going through the park. Look on google maps and ull see the big lake. You can walk around the bank a lot around there.

[hawgenvy]

Yes, Take Glades and pass 441, keep going all the way down and you will see the entrance on the left. You will see the first pond on the left going through the park. Look on google maps and ull see the big lake. You can walk around the bank a lot around there.

Thanks, AVID!

[SirSnookalot]

I have fished several of the places at South County, not too much anymore.  Never had much success at the big lake.  There is a pond at the entrance Yamato, there used to be a lot of lily pads, I caught a ton of nice bass there.  The brush has grown quite a bit and the access to fish isn't too good anymore.  The pond by the Daggerwing nature center can be pretty good too.

Other than that I'm not too excited to go back there, I think Boca has some better areas to fish.