NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

March 9, 2000

CONTACT: Norman Young (850) 892-8001

CONTRACT LET FOR DAM REPAIRS

As a result of available funding, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has contracted with a construction firm for repairs to dams on two of its fish management areas - Lake Stone (PDF brochure) in Escambia County and Hurricane Lake in Okaloosa County. The repairs will begin in the next 7 - 10 days.

Both dams have extensive shoreline erosion. The repairs by North Florida Construction, Inc. of Clarksville will require the water level be dropped approximately 10 feet in each lake.

The lake level in Lake Stone will be dropped later this week and will be down approximately 30 days. When Stone Lake is finished the water level will be allowed to rise and Hurricane Lake water level will be dropped 10 feet. Repairs to the Hurricane Lake dam should also take about 30 days.

"We realize this will inconvenience some anglers but the funds for the repairs are available and it's necessary to do this to maintain the integrity of the dams," said Norman Young, FWC fisheries biologist. He said both lakes will remain open to fishing during the work. Fishermen should be able to launch small boats at ramps on each lake during the work.