FWC installs floating enclosures to support aquatic vegetation on Lake Harris

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) expects to conduct aquatic habitat restoration projects at Lake Harris over the next three years. Boaters are encouraged to exercise caution when navigating near the marked project areas.

FWC aquatic habitat biologists recently installed eight floating enclosures at different locations on Lake Harris and Little Lake Harris to promote improved submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) coverage. These floating enclosures are stocked with native coontail and bladderwort, sheltering the plants as they reproduce and spread.

Floating enclosures are clearly marked with retroreflective tape to aid nighttime navigation and an upright post with an FWC decal to inform boaters of their presence. Please refer to the map for enclosure locations. The enclosures are permitted by federal (U. S. Army Corps of Engineers) and state (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) agencies.

This work supports the FWC's Harris Chain of Lakes Management Plan that specifies 10 percent coverage as the minimum desirable level of SAV. Native aquatic plants provide vital breeding grounds, shelter and food for many species of fish and wildlife. Healthy aquatic vegetation creates dense, complex cover where juvenile fish species can reach adulthood, improving fishing opportunities.

The FWC plants hundreds of thousands of native submerged aquatic vegetation plants every year to restore, enhance and maintain aquatic habitat throughout the state of Florida. More information about the FWC's aquatic habitat efforts is available at MyFWC.com/AquaticHabitat. For any questions regarding restoration projects on Lake Harris, email [email protected].