At the April 20, Clermont City Council Workshop, the City Council received a presentation by the Lake County Water Authority highlighting several areas of concern to the Clermont Chain of Lakes. One such area was the development of the Green Swamp State Area of Critical Concern which has potential for open-pit mining. The Lake County Water Authority passed a resolution opposing the mining and requested that the City of Clermont do so as well for the preservation of the Clermont Chain of Lakes.
Clermont Chain of Lakes flows within the Palatlakaha River and is dependent on discharges from Big and Little Creeks. Big and Little Creeks derive all their flows from the Green Swamp area. The flows and water levels within the Clermont Chain and the Palatlakaha River are required to maintain the ecological integrity of the lakes and wetlands.
The alteration of water recharging upland hills to manmade lakes used in mining and other development results in increased evaporative losses causing decreases in groundwater seepage to the adjoining wetlands and creeks. The combined increases in the alteration of water contributing uplands to manmade water bodies will collectively contribute to decreased flow in Little and Big Creeks causing impacts to water levels of the Clermont Chain and flows within the Palatlakaha River.
