Killing the Butler Chain of Lakes

The Butler Chain of Lakes was one of the most pristine connected lakes in Florida.

Surrounded by desired neighborhoods and a water source to Bay Hill Club & Lodge and The Walt Disney world Resort, the Butler Chain of Lakes are endangered by the excessive use of pesticides and herbicides by lakefront property owners, surrounding homes, as well as commercial properties such as golf courses. Windermere

Orange County and the State of Florida recognize that water quality, fish and wildlife is negatively impacted by overuse of chemicals that runoff to the lakes.

Many lakefront property owners are situated below the road/street grade. This is particularly harmful to the lakes as watershed of chemicals rapidly leach downward to the aquifer, as well as surface wash as properties grade downward to lake levels.

Orange County and State of Florida have rules and statutes in place to moderate the impact of harmful chemicals. For example, while property owners can apply off the shelf fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, service providers such as landscapers must be educated, trained and registered to apply such chemicals.

Even though regulations are in place, adherence and enforcement is relatively non-existent.

As an example, in the Bay Hill community property owners are served by dozens of landscape contractors. A recent review over a two week period, not a single contractor displays any permitting on their vehicles to apply chemicals.

Yet, the Bay Hill Property Owners Associated is aggressive in promoting the elimination of any vegetation that may appear in concrete or paver expansion joints and spacing.

Some Bay Hill home owners utilize lawn chemical providers to also apply herbicides as an alternative to the landscapers. When factoring this cost, it correlates to an increase in the annual Association membership cost by 50%.

There are three primary ways of elimination of such vegetation from seeding and taking root.

One elimination method is to use propane burners to burn the vegetation. This does not necessarily kill the roots. That means it is likely the vegetation will reappear in a week.

The second method is to get on one’s hands and knees and pull out the vegetation. Often, there is not enough to grab. Very frequently, the roots remain in the joint and within a few days the vegetation returns.

The third method is to use herbicides.

While it may be possible that some property owners may be in possession of a propane burner, this option is not only dangerous, but for many residents moving about a 40 pound tank from grass blade to grass blade is just not an option. As landscapers, in our 30+ years of living in the community we’ve never witnessed a single instance that a propane torch was used to eliminate vegetation.

Equally, the premise that 600+ property owners are on their hands and knees in the scorching Central

Florida sun pulling vegetation from spaces in their concrete is a sight rarely seen.

The only remaining option is the application of a herbicide. What is indisputable is that herbicides are not healthy to humans. Bayer AG which acquired Monsanto, and as a result became the seller of Roundup, is facing Billions in liabilities as it has been established the extended use of Roundup is a cause of cancer. Roundup herbicide

As a rule, one can seldom find a property owner applying herbicides themselves.

To be compliant with the aggressive enforcement actions of the Bay Hill Property Owners Association to keep driveways and sidewalks “free of vegetation” it is very likely that landscapers may be violating County and State laws by applying herbicides without proper training and registration.

Where homeowners may apply herbicides to the extent the Bay Hill Property Owners Association requires in their monthly “inspections” and citations, the frequent application of herbicides can be harmful to humans and pets. It is undeniable there is a link between exposure to herbicides and cancer.

Yet, the Bay Hill Property Owners Association is aggressive in requiring home owners to eliminate vegetation which can only be reasonably addressed with over use of herbicides.

We also know these chemicals rapidly make their way to the aquifer and the Butler Chain of Lakes. While some may argue the herbicides are diluted once integrated in the lakes, imagine swimming, kayaking and water skiing in herbicide laced lake water. Florida herbicide

Imagine the fish caught in the Butler Chain of Lakes with herbicides in their glands and meat.

If you observe a landscaper in Bay Hill spraying a substance in walkways, sidewalks or driveways use your smartphone. Take an image of the spraying and any identifier of the landscaper such as logo or license plate of their truck. Send the images to the State and County EPA to make sure the landscaper is trained and licensed.

These are “your” lakes and the future of the Butler Chain of Lakes rests on our generation, as well as the school age generation. If you boat, swim or fish in the Butler Chain of Lakes you should be aware that overuse of herbicides around the lake is “bad” for the lakes and for us and your children.

If you live in the Bay Hill community, or you are the golf club, the next time you receive a notice from the Bay Hill Property Owners Association that you have grass and weeds growing in driveways and sidewalks, “do not” dash to Home Depot and Lowes and purchase Roundup or other herbicides. “Do not” ask your landscaper to “spray” the grass and weeds.

Advise the Bay Hill Property Owners Association to provide a mechanism to be complaint without the use of herbicides.

We all want attractive yards and a community that is appealing. This can not be at the cost of our health or at the cost of polluting our immediate environment.

If you care about the Butler Chain of Lakes and as you care about your health and the health of your children, send this link to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to review the policy of the Bay Hill Property Owners Association of aggressively promoting the eradication of grass and weeds… which can only be reasonably achieved with herbicides. Florida herbicide licensing

It is critical to ask the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to provide the Bay Hill Property Owners Association with directives of what are the reasonable alternatives for home owners that does not rely on polluting our lakes and our yards.

It’s not enough to intimidate home owners to keep their sidewalks and driveways weed and grass free which requires aggressive and excessive use of herbicides, while destroying the very lakes that make our community unique.