1st Annual Lake Apopka Airboat Clean-up
Dear Fellow Airboaters,
   My name is Mike Brinkley I am a Nature Photographer, Airboater and resident of Orange County. I am also a board member with the Oakland Nature Preserve and have memberships with FOLA, Orange Audubon, SJRWMD WAV program, and FWC alligator division volunteer.
   I am organizing an effort to clean-up large debris and other undesirable objects in Lake Apopka, and I’m looking for volunteers with airboats or mud boats that are willing to help out.
   I believe the lake should be cleaned up and I believe it deserves our attention. Lake Apopka has had a troubled past but it has a brighter future with our help. Lake Apopka has a lot of what I call old trash from past use when the catfish market was a means for a living, now it has shifted to the Gizzard Shad and traps are no longer used. There are hundreds of old traps stuck in the mud around the majority of Lake Apopka’s shoreline. These old traps are no longer in use and do not need to remain in the lake ,they are death traps for many types of wild life such as turtles, fish, alligators and birds.
   Although this is a small piece of the puzzle for the health of the lake and its wildlife, it is a much needed one. Over the last 6 years my wife and I have fallen in love with the lake, its natural beauty, and all the wildlife it supports. We spend many hours on the airboat relaxing, riding and enjoying the lake.
   The clean-up effort will be based from the Magnolia Park boat ramp and the lake side pavilion located on the east shore of Lake Apopka. Airboats and other water craft that can operate in shallow muddy conditions are welcome to aid in the retrieval of old fish traps, tires and other debris. Volunteers on the ground would retrieve debris from returning water craft and transfer it to the temporary dumpster located near the ramp. There will also be a dumpster located at the Winter Garden boat ramp for our use. The cleanup event is scheduled for July 19th 2008 from 8 am to 1 pm. Refreshments will be available for the volunteers during the clean up event. Water hoses and a pressure washer will be available during and after the clean-up event.
   If you’re interested in helping out please contact me to signup for the event.

Mike Brinkley

Web site www.mikebrinkleyphotography.com
E-mail mbrinkley@mikebrinkleyphotography.com
Phone 407-310-3545