PANAMA CITY — Bay County Utilities will begin a winter drawdown of Deer Point Reservoir on Dec. 15 in an attempt to improve fish spawning areas and recreational uses on the water body.
The annual drawdown, which is requested by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), is aimed at reducing the number of weeds growing in the reservoir by exposing them to freezing temperatures. FWC officials said this would serve to decrease nuisance aquatic vegetation, improve boater access and enhance fish and wildlife habitat.
The drawdown is expected to last until Jan. 30, barring unexpected interruptions outside Bay County Utilities’ control such as heavy rainfalls that could raise water levels and extend the drawdown’s timetable, a Bay County press release states. It adds the FWC requests the reservoir be drawn down to an average target depth of 24 to 36 inches.
“Waterfront property owners should plan during this time to make repairs to their docks and bulkheads,” the release states “The Florida Department of Environmental Protection must approve any major projects, and owners contemplating repairs should contact FDEP to determine whether a permit is necessary and to obtain a permit so work may be completed during the drawdown period.”
Chris Paxton, FWC’s regional fisheries biologist, said Monday the Lemon Bacopa plant is a particular nuisance to fish spawning areas.
“There is one species that’s always more problematic than the others,” Paxton said. “We use a combination of the drawdown and stocking grass carp to control vegetation. That (carp stocking) has already been done. Vegetation puts a lot of litter on the bottom of reservoir in areas where fish spawn.”
Bill Ronk, who has a home on the reservoir, said the weeds definitely affect the spawning of the fish and interferes with boaters trying to navigate the reservoir.
“It hurts the boat owners as far as going to places in the lake,” he said. “It affects people who have docks because weeds cover up the docks. It affects all aspects of the lake as far as recreation.”
He said the drawdown helps fishing because it forces fish to go to the wet areas of the reservoir.
“The bass fishing when there is a drawdown is better than ever,” he said.
Stan Kirkland, a spokesman for FWC, said the hope is that there is a cold snap after the drawdown.
“The ideal thing is that if we can get some freezing weather,” he said, “it will knock some of that vegetation back and then make it better for people who want to create recreate on lake, whether it is fishing or swimming or whatever.”