Boat ramp closed at Sneads Smokehouse Lake during construction

(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) September 17, 2014  Boat ramp closed at Sneads Smokehouse Lake during construction The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has begun construction of a new boat-launch ramp at Sneads Smokehouse Lake, which adjoins the Aucilla River in Jefferson County. The lake’s boat ramp area is closed to public use while the FWC constructs the new ramp, expected to be completed in about six weeks. The FWC reminds people using this area for fishing, hunting, boating and recreation to heed the warning signs noting the boat ramp is temporarily closed during construction. There already has been some vandalism at the site. The FWC’s Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Restoration Section has been restoring Sneads Smokehouse Lake. An old, man-made earthen dam across part of the lake was removed in November 2013 to restore the natural water flow in both the lake and the Aucilla River. This measure is intended to create a healthier lake habitat supporting fish, waterfowl and other wildlife. “Building the new boat ramp at Sneads Smokehouse Lake is the final stage in giving people better access to a jewel of a lake in north Florida,” said Michael Hill, the FWC fisheries biologist in charge of the lake-restoration project. “Before restoration, Sneads Smokehouse had become a lake clogged with several feet of muck on the bottom and too many plants on the surface. Most fish, especially ones fun to catch and eat like bass and bream, could no longer survive there because of low oxygen levels. But the healing of the lake and adjacent Aucilla River began as soon as we removed the dam.” To learn about opportunities for fishing, hiking and paddling on the FWC’s Aucilla Wildlife Management Area, go to MyFWC.com/Viewing and select “Wildlife Management Areas/Explore By Name.

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