KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, Fla. — One of Florida’s major recharge areas for the state’s drinking supply is looking a little depleted. Luckily, Save Our Lakes is looking to rejuvenate the low water levels in Lake Geneva and Lake Brooklyn in Keystone Heights.
Lake Geneva and Lake Brooklyn are major recharge areas for the Florida Aquifer. But the lakes’ water levels have been decreasing since the mid-1970s. As it stands right now, Lake Geneva’s depth is 92 feet. Its full line, however, is 103 feet.
Scott Slater, the President of Save Our Lakes, says that even with Florida experiencing an extreme drought, even the smallest amount of rain is enough for the lakes to see progress.
“Even half an inch, three-quarters of an inch, inch and a quarter of rain allows them to turn pumps on and replenish the holding tank and refill the treatment ponds in the treatment area,” Slater said.
Still, some residents have expressed concern over how the lakes’ current condition could affect property value.
Taryn Lewis, a realtor in Keystone Heights, says she hasn’t seen a marketable property value difference for lakefront properties — but that could change.
“I could see that if the lakes don’t come back up, then that would affect property values,” Lewis said. “You don’t want to pay more for lakefront if you don’t have lakefront.”
Slater says that he hopes that Lake Brooklyn will reach its fill line in about two years. After that, excess water will be able to flow into Lake Geneva.
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