Abstract |
In recent years one of the most studied lakes in peninsular Florida has been Lake Apopka. Once a nationally known recreational lake where record bass were caught, it has become excessively eutrophic and heavily overpopulated with trash fish. Perpetual algal blooms and extensive unconsolidated bottom deposits covering suitable fish spawning and feeding grounds have added to its many problems. The scope of this study is the mapping of the depth and extent of unconsolidated muck on the lake bottom, chemical evaluation of selected core samples to show the nutrient quantity and quality of layered material, and determination of nitrogen and phosphorus content of rainfall, citrus grove drainage, and artesian aquifer inflow. |