Orange County government is seeking responses on a survey to better protect shorelines on local lakes, ponds and streams.
The Orange County Environmental Protection team is looking to strengthen policies to better protect shorelines along our natural waterbodies, including lakes, ponds and streams, and they need community input. Despite rapid and widespread growth across Central Florida, many of the county’s ordinances centered on lakeshore protection have been in place for decades, largely unchanged. Orange County’s ecologists, water quality experts, and policy professionals are reviewing a variety of data and historical usage to consider the effectiveness of the existing codes and determine what changes are necessary.
As Orange County is reviewing lakeshore rules to protect lake health, water quality, wildlife, and property, the local government is seeking community input as they shape new policies.
The county survey reminds residents there are no right or wrong answers. This quick survey is estimated to take about 3-5 minutes.
Orange County’s Environmental Protection Division seems to have observed several issues that are problematic locally:
- Native vegetation not being replanted after authorized removal of invasive/exotic vegetation
- Grandfathered “beach” shorelines leading to creation of new beaches
- Many of the code enforcement issues stem from unauthorized lakeshore vegetation clearing, despite current policies.
- Existing “dredge and fill” codes were not written with performance standards in mind for seawalls. The process to get a seawall permit takes too long and the standards are ill-suited for projects involving shoreline hardening.
Take the Orange County lakeshore protection survey online to share your thoughts.
Engage Orange is the Community Engagement Portal for Orange County, Florida’s Planning, Zoning, and Environmental Protection Divisions. It is the designated community space to share ideas, voice concerns, and offer feedback on the projects and policies that affect the local community in Central Florida.
