Spring Lake is slowly getting back to normal.
But the cause for the environmental damage to the lake is yet unknown.
In late October, about 22,000 gallons of sewage flowed into the lake, located near the intersection of Clark and Palm drives in Holmes Beach. The waste came from a nearby Manatee County lift station. The county initially blamed the killing of more than 100 fish in the lake to the sewage spill. Now, officials aren’t so sure that’s the reason crabs, red fish, snook and other species of fish died in the lake.
According to Amy Pilson, public affairs liaison to Manatee County Utilities, the reason for the fish kill could be unrelated to the sewage overflow.
Pilson said dead fish were first reported in the lake Oct. 26, two days before the sewage incident on Oct. 28. She said the two events are potentially related. However, with the sewage spill coming on the heels of the first reported fish kill, it may be difficult to identify the cause.
“There are a lot of factors that come into play,” Pilson said.
One factor is hydraulic acid that was drained into the lake by American Beauty Pools workers during construction of two pools at a Clark Drive duplex.
However, water testing showed the amount of acid drained into the lake insufficient to kill the fish.
Manatee County Utilities removed the dead fish from the lake, vacuumed debris along the shores and sprinkled lime in the area. When water tests showed the contaminants at the lake were within normal range, the county removed warning signs Nov. 5 and concluded its investigation.
Holmes Beach code enforcement and police departments also have concluded their investigations. HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer said American Beauty Pools would be cited for improper drainage. The company was given a warning for the same issue at the Clark Drive site by code enforcement in August.
FWC also is concluding its investigation.
With murky water and no fish jumping in the lake, residents in the area are concerned the cleanup effort is incomplete.
Melissa Williams, who resides on the lakefront, said she hopes the county will continue cleanup efforts and restock the fish.
Another resident, Bob McCaffrey, agrees.
McCaffrey, who has lived along the lake for 25 years, said the murky water and odor from the water after the leak left him concerned about the effort put into restoration.
“I’m not sure their cleanup effort is great,” he said. “I’m not sure they’re taking the right steps. It was man who made the mess and man should clean it up.”
McCaffrey said he’d also like to see the lake restocked with fish and the water clean and clear.
“I’d just like them to put it back the way it was,” he said.