Helicopter Crash in Lake Apopka - while treating for "invasive" plants

[Manatee Mauler]

Its odd that the FWC wanted to use such a massive method to knock out the hydrilla when a report a few years ago said that the hydrilla has turned out to be the to be the best way to clear up the water quality issues down there. The FWC supposedly installed giant pumps trying to filter the water but was deemed ineffective. The lake has made a huge rebound with great results documented by tx results. So why go to such large measures to kill what is largely responsible for the "rebirth" of the lake? I say two reasons. (1) retires from out of state who bought water front property in pontoon boats are bitching about the very thing improving water clarity. (2) The lake owners gives the politicians ( who rely on local votes for relection)a reason to cater to the big chemical/spray companies to justify millions of dollars in contracts issued by the state. Remember this is the second biggest lake in the state that could be worth millons to guys like "Applied Aquatics". While i hope no one got hurt, they got what they deserved. Catering to people who want a weed free lake that dont give a damn about fishing. Now certainly the state buying up muck farms around the lake helped but dont think they did that for the sole purpose of fishing. If the state could half way clean up the lake and sell ot as useable water front then they increased the tax base. You got to figure, all those farms they bought were locked into a tax base based on revenue from 40 years ago.