The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has completed its final draft of a Lake Management Plan for the Kissimmee Chain, which includes Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee and Lake Cypress, south of St. Cloud.
An open house will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 30, from 6-8 p.m. at the Kissimmee Civic Center to engage the public for feedback on the contents of the new plan. A public meeting was previously hosted by the FWC on Nov. 10, 2021, to hear comments from the public on the proposed plan. About 25 area residents attended the meeting, including many concerned boaters and anglers. Four lake systems in Central Florida, including the Kissimmee Chain, have been undergoing the plan review process over the last 18 months. One of the main purposes of the lake plans is to provide recommendations to partner agencies on items outside of FWC’s jurisdiction, such as water levels and water quality. FWC management activities include habitat protection, restoration and enhancement, fish management, and invasive plant management.
At the November meeting, FWC sta_ heard about some perennial areas of concern, such as invasive plants, like hydrilla, that choke portions of the area’s lakes. Invasive animals that challenge and compete with native species for precious habitat, food sources, or actually become prey for the invasive species, were also highlighted by members of the public.
Some of the objectives in the finalized plan include managing habitat to increase the populations of fish species such as largemouth bass, black crappie, and bream and bird species including wood ducks and snail kites. Control of hydrilla and monitoring the alligator population are also major concerns. e Kissimmee chain is known nationwide for its bountiful bass _shing, and the various professional angling tours make nearannual tournament stops in Kissimmee. For more information, go to FWC’s Lake Management Plans website at https://bit.ly/3BSuvSg.
