My one time outstanding community ponds have been in decline the last few years.  So one of the members of the HOA tells me Palm Beach county had forced our community to buy reclaimed water instead of just rain water keeping the ponds full.  Fishing several other communities and golf courses in the area I can attest this program is not enforce everywhere as water levels are low as they usually are this time of year.  I am also noticing some weird algae and the HOA is spraying more often, our ponds now are pretty much void of any vegetation. The catalyst that prompted my call was the lack of beds, first year I've seen none except tilapia.

 

It's doubtful the FWC will do any thing about but had to get it off my chest.  The person on the phone said they would pass the information along, saying they have people that go out and check water quality.

Good for you on promoting pond health and the preservation of our awesome game fish!!

Thanks SirSnook. I've also been concerned about the lack of vegetation compared to a year ago in several locations in the Boca/Delray/Boynton area. Seems there are less shoreline emergent plants, and less pads as well, in residential and golf course locales. I always have better luck catching bass in the ponds with more abundant pads.

 

I was not sure whether the diminution of the pads and shore plants was a result of some natural climatic phenomenon (we have had a number of cold fronts) or a deliberate action by the communities, possibly a byproduct of indiscriminate algae-reducing herbicidal chemicals. Communities of course care about the appearance of their waters, but I think to them the aesthetic of a sterile appearing plant-less lake is preferable to one with the slightest hint of scum. Although emergents like pickerel weed and reeds and pads are also found attractive, algae is an eyesore and can accelerate eutrophication, and it is probably much cheaper to get rid of everything than to clear the algae while leaving the good stuff. I think some of the richer communities try to keep some pads, etc, and many of the others don't. A thriving healthy ecosystem with big chunky happy bass is probably almost never a goal for residents and golfers in south Florida.

 

Anyway, there are probably governmental rules and standards, and communities apparently have a lot of latitude. I would love to learn more about the whole subject but haven't found good information sources. So if you or anyone can link me to some information about SoFlo pond management science and practices I'd appreciate that.

Quite true about not maintaining a healthy ecosystem, it just isn't on their agenda of priorities.  In my community there are only 2-3 bass fishermen and they are snowbirds.   

Even though I limit my bass fishing this time of year it's nice to go into my backyard pond for an hour or so and catch some nice fish, just not happening anymore.

Doubt the FWC will look into it.

That for me is the beauty of bass fishing, an hour of tossing a bait in a local pond or canal after work and maybe you've got a couple of nice ones, and then you're done, and not covered with salt or sand. And you've tossed 'em back so no fish to clean.

 

Most of my friends and neighbors don't get it at all. They probably think I sit in a folding chair and catch bony little bream for dinner. Someone asked me yesterday if I read a book while I'm fishing. I told her how bass fishing is all action, thrill of the hunt and so forth, advanced art and science, advanced techniques, always learning new strategies. She thought I was being sarcastic.

It's the curse of having an HOA. Mine is more concerned about the lake looking pretty instead of being healthy. Spray spray spray all that grass away. Can't stand it.

I'd much rather see some sterile grass carp released than have the Clearwater boats spraying. I understand they need to keep the culverts and all unobstructed. I just wish they could find a happy medium.

Unfortunately the happy medium lies in the interest with those who have the deepest pockets.

Unfortunately the happy medium lies in the interest with those who have the deepest pockets.

Not necessarily. A good HOA listens to the majority of the residents. Fortunately mine does. I've been very happy with them. I completely understand the line of thinking they have. Keep property values high, which I'm cool with.

I knew when I had the house built that certain things I'd have to live with. Not being able to keep a boat in open view being one of them. I never expected them to cater to an angler. It would be nice, but realistically, I've got a better chance of hitting the lottery.

And I don't play the lotto....

Suggest that you visit the next outdoor show in your area and talk to the FWC biologists if they are there.

Word of warning - you may have to pi@# them off in front of several people to really get their attention. Shouldn't be that way but it seems to work. They don't like to be embarrassed.

SoFlaBassAddict is absolutely right.

HOA's don't care about fishing or even aware of maintaining a healthy ecosystem.  I've dealt with the spraying for years, IMO it curtailed the bite for a few days, in time I caught fish.  Our problem here is reclaimed water being pumped in, that has killed the bite.  I called the FWC just to get it off my chest, highly doubtful they have the man power to check out small community ponds and lakes.

Where is the water reclaimed from? Sounds contrary to any of the eco-friendly stands so common today. Is the idea just to keep the ponds full for aesthetic reasons?

Most of the lakes around the communities here are pits dug for three reasons. Fill for new housing land, property value for those new houses, and retention pits for rain runoff. Most of the lakes have culverts and a pumping station nearby. They're almost all connected in some way. They help to regulate water levels around the county as well as keeping flood levels down.

They definitely are nice to have for value. I paid a significant amount of extra cash to have lakefront property. It was well worth the investment. The value of my land has gone up quite a bit over the years. If I ever decided to sell, I'd make a nice profit.

It really is beneficial all around to have them. They help with wildlife, etc etc. There are a few communities that do a VERY good job with the management of the aquatic species. Because they are private land though, management basically falls to the individual HOA of the development.

Where is the water reclaimed from? Sounds contrary to any of the eco-friendly stands so common today. Is the idea just to keep the ponds full for aesthetic reasons?

Water treatment plants, there are lots of them.

Like this one.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=26.4859,-80.164533&spn=0.008643,0.015278&t=h&z=16