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10-Year Plan Proposed For Lake Stone’s Future; Public Hearing Set
March 27, 2019
A 10-year plan for Lake Stone is in the works, and the public will have an opportunity to learn more and comment next month.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff will present the draft land management plan for the Lake Stone Fish Management Area.
Lake Stone is managed through a cooperative agreement between the FWC and Escambia County to conserve natural communities and use lake management techniques to maintain healthy fish habitats. The area features a man-made lake stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie and channel catfish. The impoundment, managed and maintained by FWC, was constructed in the late 1960s to provide additional freshwater fishing opportunities in an area where these opportunities are limited.
Escambia County maintains public camping facilities and a fishing pier, along with roads, trails and parking facilities in the area. In addition to fishing opportunities, the lake provides recreational opportunities such as wildlife viewing, hiking, paddling and camping. Gasoline boat motors are prohibited from use on Lake Stone; however, the use of electric trolling motors is allowed.
“This draft management plan provides conservation-based management for healthy terrestrial and aquatic habitats, cultural resources, along with fish- and wildlife-based outdoor recreation opportunities for public use,” said Dylan Imlah, FWC land conservation planner.
There is about $148,000 in the first year and an additional $428,000 over the 10-year life of the plan for capital construction.
About 15 campsites have been paved so far, and another 50 to 60 will be paved with county funding, according to Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes. The county also hopes to replace the playground and the office/caretaker trailer.
“We are also looking towards potentially building a new open pavilion, kiosk and new gate near the dam for the area, however these items have not yet been approved or vetted for funding,” said Imlah.
There are also two full-time employees in the plan.
“Currently, we have several employees from both the FWC and Escambia County assisting in managing the area. The two employees listed in the plan is based off of our proposed budget, showing that we would need at a minimum of two full time employees dedicated to the area in order to manage optimally. Currently, we have an FWC manager along with several other staff who help maintain the lake and fish populations. We also have FWC staff who monitor wildlife species and exotics that may occur on the upland areas. Additionally, the county pays a caretaker to live on the area and manage the recreational facilities. Not to mention county staff that assist in campsite reservations, facility development improvements,” Imlah told NorthEscambia.com.
There are no plans, she said, to change the public’s current use of Lake Stone, only improve access as funding allows.
The Lake Stone Fish Management Area public hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at Century Town Hall.
Pictured: Lake Stone near Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “10-Year Plan Proposed For Lake Stone’s Future; Public Hearing Set”
“”"”There’s no fish in that lake. We go there regularly but never catch anything. “”"”
You are just unlucky. I caught one “THIS BIG”! Seriously, I catch a lot and many other people catch a lot
There’s no fish in that lake. We go there regularly but never catch anything. I tell my hubby his skills are slipping but he says there are no fish. Every now and then I see a bird with a fish and I say “Look there are too fish” but he says they are actually bringing fish in. Even the birds are so fed up they are stocking it with fish from from other ponds.
Leave it
We would like to see full hook up most people would use it more.Other places in south fl have prestin boat ramps and camping areas why can’t someone fight for us to get something nice up here.
Nice pictures.
A lake at sunset or sunrise is a pretty sight.
Would help it they controlled the limit that is caught by fishermen located in the wooded area close to the dam. I’ve seen coolers go out of there with way more than the daily limit.
I have stopped fishing at lake stone I hardly ever catch a fish or even get a nibble be nice if they stocked it up more . I know it’s not heavily fish there hardly anyone there . I got married there guess that best thing I caught I guess
Sounds great….I know it’s mostly set up for RVs but how about a few tiny cabins in the woids and a retail space for a bait shop.
why are the fish in the lake so skinny
Stock fish more regular.
Leave the grass it hides them from the tower boats that can’t fish except for March… Also why do they not have Florida strain large mouth when we ship them all over the world?
Hopefully there will be some money left over for a bigger hot water heater. A 50 gallon tank for six showers is not nearly big enough.
Well, it’s a little gem. I hope they keep it that way.
Why not hold the meeting at Lake Stone’s pavilion, since this is about the lake and it facilities? Will Century town hall charge a fee to use its building? If it does, there’s no good reason to waist taxpayer money there.
Would like to know where I can put an application in! I’m very interested in a job at lake stone
Keep the grass situation in the lake under control and possibly put in some more fish attractors. Hopefully some of the money will go into the health and well-being of the lake and not just the land surrounding it.