Big Fish Lake is a shallow wet prairie/lake system located approximately 2.5 miles east of the Cross Bar Ranch Wellfield. The lake is located on property owned and managed by the Barthle Brothers Ranch, Inc. In the past, Big Fish Lake has ranged in size from over 200 acres during wet-weather periods to only a few acres or completely dry during severe drought periods. Lake levels have also been influenced by wellfield production.
An augmentation well was constructed in May 2000 and placed into service by the Barthle Brothers Ranch. Pumping from the well is conducted under a SWFWMD Water Use Permit issued to the Barthle Brothers Ranch, Inc., which authorizes up to 310,000 gallons per day on an annual average basis and up to 540,000 gallons per day on a peak month basis. Barthle Brothers Ranch has been using this well to augment Big Fish Lake.
In spring 2001, a site-specific analysis was undertaken by Tampa Bay Water to assess future water level recovery at Big Fish Lake following the required pumping reductions at Tampa Bay Water's 11 Consolidated Permit wellfields. The analysis concluded that water levels at Big Fish Lake will not fully recover following future wellfield pumpage reductions and that Tampa Bay Water should consider Big Fish Lake as a target site for environmental restoration.
In July 2002, Tampa Bay Water negotiated with the property owners and agreed to fund electrical costs associated with the continued augmentation of Big Fish Lake. Tampa Bay Water subsequently requested and SWFWMD approved this activity as one of the eight approved Phase 1 Mitigation projects.
Project Costs
The augmentation well system cost approximately $24,500. Tampa Bay Water will fund lake augmentation electrical costs up to aproximately $8,400 each year with an increase of 5% annually through the year 2010.
Status
Augmentation combined with rainfall and groundwater pumpage reductions have maintained Big Fish Lake's surface area at 50-120 acres since early 2003. Augmentation with groundwater has been successful at this location in maintaining wildlife habitat and refuge that could have otherwise been lost.
