Lake Maintenance History:
In 1992, Hydrilla growth filled the lake to a point where it could not sustain aquatic life (i.e. fish, turtles, etc.). Slowly dying fish drew various wildlife who attempted to eat the dead fish, often leaving partially eaten carcasses lying around in yards and on the roofs of surrounding homes. The smell made it impossible for residents to venture into their back yards. A second effect, caused from the Hydrilla was that the weed limited all natural water movement which caused terrible algae blooms and a very unsightly mess.
Many neighbors gathered together to address the situation and a small group researched options for recovering the lake which included contacting both the City of Largo and Pinellas County for answers and assistance. We found that the lake is considered “private”, and is the responsibility of the property owners to maintain it. We also found that we have no control of the storm drainage systems that flow into it. (Note: I have original copies of various letters from city officials regarding this should anyone wish to review.)
The first decision was to purchase “Chinese Grass Carp“, which eat Hydrilla and some types of algae. I obtained permits, from the State of Florida, to purchase and paid for them myself. After some time, it was apparent that the Carp alone would not be able to control the weed growth and we agreed to contract with Aquatic Solutions for monthly chemical treatments and that is when we started requesting the surrounding property owners to contribute towards this service.
Chemical Treatment Results:
For a number of years, the monthly chemical treatments did a good job maintaining the water quality and weed control however there were instances of algae blooms and fish kills. These occurrences were not necessarily due to improper chemical maintenance, but due to a variety of natural circumstances such as low rain fall, high temperatures, and times of the year where surrounding homeowners fertilize their lawns and the runoff nutrients flow into the lake via the storm drainage systems.
Starting 2017, excessive algae has been the issue. Discussing the problem, with the lake maintenance management, we agreed to a full run of tests to determine the best solution. Alum (Aluminum Sulfate) was chosen as an additive to the lake, the purpose to capture the excessive phosphate (fertilizer compounds) that contribute to the excessive growth. This costly solution was successful, however not one that lasts for ever.
As time passed, the Alum dissipated, mostly due to the out-flowing of water after rain storms. Also, over time, the lake maintenance staff has changed, including ownership. On top of that, the City of Largo rebuilt local street drains and added additional ‘run-off’ into the lake. With all these changes, currently the lake is barely manageable regarding excessive-uncontrolled algae growth.
Future Plans:
My hope is:
- That the surrounding property owners continue to support these types of maintenance efforts of Grove Lake.
- The lake maintenance company readdresses their commitments to control algae and weeds
- My dream is that someday, we may be able to secure a lawyer to address issues with the City ‘dumping’ into the once ‘Spring-fed’ lake (supposedly against environmental laws’), and commit them to aid in the maintenance of these issues.
Does the lake have a name?
Is the lake man-made?
How deep is the lake?
How large is the lake?
Is there a spring in the lake?
Who owns the lake?
Is fishing allowed?
Can you swim in the lake?
Are there Alligators in the lake?
Who maintains the lake?
Why does the lake require maintenance?
Why are there weeds growing in the lake, or algae in it?
Who pays the maintenance company?
Who hired the maintenance company?
Are all the neighbors required to pay?
How much does the maintenance contract cost?
Are there any chemicals in the lake?
Is the lake’s maintenance contract necessary?
Can I maintain the lake myself?
Are lakefront property owners liable for accidents/injury of persons in the lake?
Who do I call if I desire additional information about Grove Lake?
How can I volunteer to help with these efforts?
Does the lake have a name?
The name is Grove Lake and the neighborhood’s name is Grove Lake Manor [Top]
Is the lake man-made?
A portion of the lake was here before the subdivision was built. This area was an orchard prior to homes being build. My older brother, Keith Klotz, used to tell me how he, and our cousin, caught an Alligator in the original pond. The lake was enlarged when the subdivision was built. [Top]
How deep is the lake?
In the beginning, the deepest part (south end) is up to 14 feet deep however the north end is only about 4 feet at it’s deepest point. [Click Here] for a .pdf file of the neighborhood plat. [Top]
How large is the lake?
Approximately 2.5 acres. [Top]
Is there a spring in the lake?
Originally yes, today ? It does have some natural water supply as it maintains levels w/o relying on rain water. [Top]
Who owns the lake?
The lake is considered, by Pinellas County and the City of Largo, as being privately owned by the surrounding property owners. Originally, there was a neighborhood HOA who would have been responsible for any maintenance. Some years back (i.e. 40+), the HOA disolved, hence maintenance is now only the surrounding residents provide support. [Top]
Is fishing allowed?
There are no official restrictions regarding fishing and/or boating however some property owners restrict access to their property. Considering all the runoff and maintenance chemicals injected into the lake, I personally wouldn’t eat the fish. [Top]
Can you swim in the lake?
There are no restrictions. [Top]
Are there Alligators in the lake?
None at this time however this could change as there have been Alligators sighted in neighboring and they sometimes travel from pond to pond. If an alligator were to be spotted, NEVER feed it![Top]
Who maintains the lake?
Solitude Lake Management. (formerly Aquatic Systems), 2844 Crusader Circle, Suite 450, Virginia Beach, VA 23453 (888.480.5253)
Why does the lake require maintenance?
Primarily to control weed and algae growth that is caused by excessive fertilizer runoff into the lake. This causes weeks to grow quickly, limiting water circulation and limiting sunlight which increases algae formation. [Top]
Why are there weeds growing in the lake, or algae in it when it is under a maintenance contract?
Monthly chemical treatment does not 100% guarantee that no weeds or algae will grow. Rainfall, temperature can cause changes in the lake. [Top]
Who pays the maintenance company?
Kurt Klotz (me) currently pays the maintenance company on a monthly basis and requests contributions from other lakefront property owners. [Top]
Who hired the maintenance company?
Originally, a group of neighbors investigated various companies and hired Aquatic Systems. Mr. Klotz replaced Aquatic systems with All American Lake Management in 2007 due to excessive rates, and later returned to Aquatic (now Solitude) due to ability to control the algae issues…the AALM rep ‘vanished’ after not able to stop the algae. [Top]
Are all the neighbors required to pay?
No, however it is highly desired. At this time, one property owner’s contribution has been waived due to that property, at times, is used for launching a small boat used for distribution of chemicals which sometimes damages the lawn. Should the total contributions fall short of the total contract amount, the contract may be cancelled and the lake will no longer me maintained. [Top]
How much does the maintenance contract cost?
[This is not listed on-line due to privacy reasons] [Top]
Are there any chemicals in the lake?
Yes. A list of common chemicals includes, but not limited to: Aluminum Sulfate (Alum), Copper Sulfate, Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate. Also Blue/Black dye is added to block sunlight from photosynthesizing the algae. [Top]
Is the lake’s maintenance contract necessary?
Yes. Without maintenance, it is expected that the lake would quickly fill with weeds causing most all the aquatic life to die and then the stagnant water would be covered by algae. This would result in a decrease in property value, a foul odor and also be very unsightly. [Top]
Can I maintain the lake myself?
One must be licensed by the State of Florida to dispense chemicals into any body of water. [Top]
Are lakefront property owners liable for accidents/injury of persons in the lake?
?? I am not a lawyer and my comments are purely my opinion, but my guess is that the answer is Yes. Considering the litigious society that we live in these days, I believe that lake front property owners should be cautions and concerned about who accesses their property, including when accessing the lake area. [Top]
Who do I call if I desire additional information about Grove Lake?
Kurt Klotz, (727) 595-0345 Email: kklotz@yahoo.com [Top]
How can I help keep the lake beautiful?
Limit the usage of fertilizers in areas of your property where it could run into the lake.
Don’t dispose of weeds, grass clippings or other waste into the lake.
If using reclaimed water, adjust your sprinklers so that they do not spray into the lake.
Contribute to the lake maintenance fund. [Top]
Citizens Guide to Lake and Pond Management
Guide to Aeration/Circulation Techniques for Lake Management
Aquatic Plant Management, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida
Copper Sulfate has negative effects in Ponds
The Reduction of Internal Phosphorus Loading Using Alum in Spring Lake, Michigan
Waterfront Property Owners Guide, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Wastewater Pond uses Floating Wetlands for Nutrient removal
(These archives are saved in Adobe Acrobat format)
Newsletters
1998
1999
1999b
2000
2001
2002
2003
2003b
2004
2005
2005b
2006
2007
2008
2009
2009b
2010
2011
2012
2014
2014b
2014c
2015
2015b
2016 2016b
2016c
2017
2017b
2018
2019
2020
2020 Maintenance Contract Renewal
2021
2022
2022b
2023
2024
2025
2025b
2026
Pinellas County Plot drawing of ‘Grove Lake Manor
Pinellas County property appraiser satellite view of ‘Grove Lake’
1992 Lake Maintenance Proposal – Aquatic Systems
1992 Special services agreement – Aquatic Systems
1997 Water assessment proposal
1997 Water analysis reports
2017 Water analysis contract
2017 Water analysis
2017 Alum Proposal
2017 – City of Largo Drainage plans
2017 – Drainage plan permit
Pre-Maintence contract correspondence
Application to purchase Traploid Grass Carp 1992
State Approval to purchase Traploid Grass Carp
Letter to neighbors regarding installation of Traploid Grass Carp – 1992
Letter to City of Largo 1993
1993 Contacts List
Help keep our lake healthy and beautiful by offering your financial support towards the maintenance contract.
Your contribution of $342.00, or more, not only will help pay for the annual contract, it does not cover the cost for the electricity required for the aeration system, nor for support for the aeration system. (Which had to be replaced in 2024 – $$$)
You may submit your contribution via my PayPal account. Options include contributing the full requested amount ($342.00), a different amount, or choose to setup a monthly automatic payment.
You may also send your contribution to my ‘Zelle’ account: kklotz@yahoo.com, or bank check.
Whatever you choose is greatly appreciated.
Disclaimer:
This webpage was created by Kurt Klotz for the purpose of distributing/sharing information about the Weed Control efforts of Grove Lake, and as such, take no responsibility for the accuracy of any information contained within these pages.
