hen considering Orange Lake's myriad problems and viable restoration solutions, Lakes Lochloosa and Newnans also must be factored into the equation.

All three Alachua County lakes share a similar history, experience comparable environmental woes, and will require analogous renewal efforts to put them back onto Florida's fishing "map."

Orange and Lochloosa Lakes are connected by Cross Creek, while Newnans Lake flows into Orange via outflows through Paynes Prairie.

With its TEAM (Team Effort Accomplishing Management) approach initiated in early 1997 by Florida's Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC), scientists from various state agencies are hopeful that all three lakes ultimately will be restored to past fishing glories.

Goals for this TEAM chore include increased angler participation, optimizing sportfish production and recruitment through littoral habitat improvement, and informing the public of resource needs, management strategies and recreational angling opportunities.

"Problems encountered by these lakes include persistent low water levels resulting in degraded fish and wildlife habitat, depressed sportfish populations, limited public access to the lake's resources, and a need for greater coordination between government agencies to manage these lakes," says GFC Biologist Bob Hujik, project director charged with implementing the TEAM plan for the Orange Lake complex.

Bass and crappie populations in the lake have been sparse since the early 1990's. Bream fishing, however, has been excellent.

As fish production dipped from a boom in the late 1980's, the number of private fish camps serving anglers has dwindled to about one-half dozen on the 12,700-acre lake, and to only one at Cross Creek.

A tussock removal effort covering about 80 acres at Cross Creek took place last fall. It is hoped that hydrilla coverage can be maintained at its current 20 to 30 percent level with help from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Last November, TEAM opened extensive marsh areas in the northeast section to reestablish public boat accessiblity and, at the same time, reconnected the marshes directly to the lake to enhance fish movement.

Other immediate projects include the initiation of discussions with Marion County officials to build a fishing pier, to maintain four fish feeders near the county boat ramp, and to investigate the possibility of providing public bank fishing opportunities on private properties.

On an annual basis, the GFC will work with DEP to implement a marsh burn plan and, with a local airboat club, to maintain boating trails.

Long-term aims include a continuing hydrilla management plan, removal of organic material from suitable areas during drought conditions, and work with the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) to develop a sinkhole management plan to de-stabilize persistent low water levels.

In June, the GFC will determine the feasibility of stocking black crappie and largemouth bass into Orange Lake as a temporary measure to increase angling opportunities until increased natural reproduction can take up the slack.

Spraying for hydrilla and other noxious plant life in the late 80's and early 90's killed off most of the lake's vegetation and resulted in a generally poor fishing situation for anglers.

Current efforts at restoring native submersed aquatic plantlife seems to be succeeding with help from public volunteers who want to see work and progress continue on a body of water which, until the mid-1980's, was considered a productive bass and crappie fishery.

Last fall, some 35 volunteers sowed 10,000 eel grass plants and, during the past two years, other vegetative work has contributed to an improving situation.

"We're getting excellent cooperation from the public on Lochloosa," enthused Hujik.

He added that a developing partnership with DEP and SJRWMD to conduct mass plantings of knotgrass, bulrush and eelgrass in shallow areas appears to be succeeding.

In addition to adding more fish attractors to the lake, the TEAM concept will develop and supplement burn plans for marsh areas similar to that of Orange Lake, and stocked black crappie fingerlings last November. A stocking of bass is set for May to enhance existing largemouth populations.

Located in close proximity to Gainesville, the 7,400-acre hypereutrophic lake does enjoy an excellent hybrid striped bass fishery that was created through stocking programs in recent years.

Despite lots of forage fish, dominated by threadfin shad, minnows, bass and crappie activity is described by all observers as "poor," while bluegill and shellcracker numbers are only slightly better.

Annual and long-term solutions to Newnans' problems include a determination of cause for its water quality deterioration, a program to revegetate littoral areas with emergent vegetation, and long-term muck removal efforts. What is causing the lake's continuing water quality deterioration seems, at this point, to be a real puzzle.

"It's a dilemma that we're all trying to solve."

On the immediate horizon, TEAM will recruit and train University of Florida volunteers in basic aquatic plant and fisheries monitoring techniques, create gravel spawning and fish attractor areas, and the addition of two new fish attractors.

Newnans was considered a premier fishing lake in the 1970's and early 1980's. About the only thing it currently has going for it is an excellent hybrid striped bass opportunity for anglers visiting here from throughout Florida and the United States who are often successful in landing trophy sunshine bass weighing from eight to 12 pounds. Hybrid striped bass do not reproduce naturally and a continuing high density stocking program will continue until habitat conditions support largemouth bass and crappie populations of a magnitude that will sustain a sport fishery.