LAKEWATCH needs a building of its own - a "home" for its programs, activities and people. The building will also help secure LAKEWATCH'S future. You can help! Read what one long-term Volunteer, Nancy Dunn, has to say!

Letter from LAKEWATCHer Nancy Dunn:

To Florida LAKEWATCH Volunteer:
A HOME FOR FLORIDA LAKEWATCH

Being a LAKEWATCH volunteer for 15 years on Bear Lake in Seminole County, I am a part of our family of volunteers in the state.

The Florida LAKEWATCH program has been there constantly for us over the years and our data is solid. We rely heavily on this group and need to support them now to insure our future in continuing to monitor Florida lakes. LAKEWATCH is an insurance policy for our lakes as the population growth in Florida puts pressure on our water resources.

Florida LAKEWATCH needs a better home, as they are scattered amongst multiple buildings and sites. Current buildings cannot be expanded and laboratory space is needed.

The letter we have here from Dr. Dan Canfield, the founder of LAKEWATCH, has the details and enhancements the new home will bring.

LAKEWATCH basically needs to raise one million dollars and a legislatively approved program will match dollar for dollar for a total building fund of two million. They already own the property & your contributions are tax deductible.

If the volunteers on the 600 lakes in Florida, currently in the LAKEWATCH program, could raise $1000 each, we would have $600,000.

However, some of these lakes are small with no organization or homeowner's assoc. Some do not have wealthy or financially stable folks living on their lake. So we know we won't reach that goal.

However, I knew for sure, our Board of Directors for the Bear Lake Preservation Assoc. certainly would approve giving $1000. We presented our gift at the Seminole County LAKEWATCH Picnic last month.

But we will be asking more from the residents around the lake, as the good water quality of the Bear Lakes has directly attributed to the enormous increase in our property values. One empty lot on Bear Lake currently goes for around $600,000. Thanks to Florida LAKEWATCH, we have been able to slow the decline of water quality in our lakes due to the education and awareness we have gained from the program.

I challenge each of you to help us with this campaign starting with your lakefront residents. Go door to door, just as you would if you were raising money for a problem with your lake or getting signatures for a petition or for lake improvements. We have these letters for you to hand out, requesting tax deductible contributions for the new building.

Make your checks out to:
University of Florida Foundation Inc. ­ SHARE
In the memo section write Florida LAKEWATCH Building Fund & what lake you volunteer on!

Mail to: IFAS/SHARE Development Office
1001 McCarty Hall D
PO Box 110170
Gainesville, Fl. 32611-0170

Attention: Josh McCoy

Sincerely, Nancy Dunn
407 920-4975

See letter from Dr. Dan Canfield Jr. (Direcctor of Florida LAKEWATCH)

(MS Word) (PDF)

For more information about how individuals (or groups) can become LAKEWATCH volunteers, contact:

Florida LAKEWATCH
IFAS, / School of Forest Resources and Conservation

Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
7922 NW 71st Street
Gainesville, FL 32653-3071
Toll Free Message Line: 1-800-LAKEWATCH (525-3928)
Phone: 352/392-4817
Fax: 352/392-4902
E-Mail: fl-lakewatch@ufl.edu