Phosphorous Criterion and Discharge Limitations for Lake Apopka

     The St. Johns River Water Management District has amended its ERP rules to limit phosphorous loads to Lake Apopka. Section 373.461, F.S., requires the District to adopt by rule discharge limitations for all permits issued by the District for discharges into Lake Apopka or its tributaries. The Lake Apopka Rules establish discharge limitations for total phosphorus for (1) surface water management systems, including agricultural surface water management systems, located within the Lake Apopka Hydrologic Basin, which discharge into Lake Apopka or its tributaries; and (2) systems that cause an interbasin diversion of water from another hydrologic basin to the Lake Apopka Hydrologic Basin and discharge water to Lake Apopka or its tributaries. The Lake Apopka Rules also include requirements for monitoring for certain systems and annual inspection requirements. The notice of proposed rule was published in the F.A.W. on April 19, 2002. The notice of change was published in the F.A.W. on January 17, 2003. The Lake Apopka Rules became effective on March 7, 2003.