Lake Jesup facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Jesup
The sunset as seen from Lake Jesup
Lake Jesup Location in Florida Show map of Florida Lake Jesup Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Seminole County, Florida
Coordinates	28°43′N 81°13′W / 28.717°N 81.217°W / 28.717; -81.217
Primary inflows	St. Johns River
Primary outflows	St. Johns River
Basin countries	United States
Average depth	6 ft (1.8 m)
Surface elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Islands	(Bird Island, Hawking Island)

Lake Jesup is a very large lake in Central Florida. It is one of many lakes that are part of the St. Johns River. You can find Lake Jesup in the middle of Seminole County.

This lake covers about 16,000 acres (65 km²). This includes both the open water and the surrounding floodplains. The lake was named after Brigadier General Thomas Jesup. He was an American military officer. He served during the Second Seminole War.

What Makes Lake Jesup Special?

Lake Jesup is known for a very long bridge. This bridge is part of the Seminole Expressway. It goes right across the lake.

Amazing Wildlife at the Lake

Lake Jesup is home to many different kinds of animals. It has one of the largest groups of alligators in Florida. If you drive across the bridge, you might see large birds. Osprey and bald eagles often sit on the light posts. They watch for fish in the water below.

How Lake Jesup Faced Challenges

For many years, Lake Jesup had some big problems. During the 1960s, the lake became very unhealthy.

What Caused the Problems?

Several things hurt the lake's health:

• Dirty Water: Wastewater was dumped directly into the lake.
• Storm Runoff: Rainwater from nearby towns flowed into the lake. This water often carried pollution.
• Man-made Walls: Walls, called berms, were built. These walls separated parts of the lake from its natural floodplains.
• Roads: A raised road, or causeway, was built. This made it harder for the lake to connect with the St. Johns River.

All these things caused a lot of algae to grow. Fish sometimes died in large numbers. A thick layer of muck formed at the bottom. This muck was over 9½ feet deep in some places. Today, the lake is only about six feet deep on average. The berms made the problem worse. They stopped the lake from cleaning itself naturally.

Working to Restore Lake Jesup

People realized the lake needed help. In the 1990s, studies began to understand the lake better.

Planning for a Healthier Lake

Experts studied how water moved in the lake. They looked at how stormwater ran into it. They also studied the effects of the State Road 46 bridge. Scientists also examined the mud at the bottom of the lake. They made plans for managing the land around the lake.

With this information, groups worked together. The Friends of Lake Jesup and the St. Johns River Water Management District teamed up. They worked with the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Together, they created a plan to make the lake healthy again.

Steps Taken for Restoration

Since the 1990s, many efforts have been made:

• Buying Land: The water district bought about 3,850 acres (15.6 km²) of land around the lake. They plan to buy another 4,700 acres (19 km²) of floodplain. This helps protect the lake for the future.
• Removing Walls: In 1996, a 2-mile (3.2 km) berm was removed. This was on the north side of the lake. This reconnected 300 acres (1.2 km²) of floodplain to the lake. This area now acts like a natural filter. It also helps control floods and provides homes for animals.
• Rebuilding the Bridge: In 2008, the Army Corps of Engineers and others rebuilt the State Road 46 bridge. They opened a channel and removed about a mile of causeway. This helps the St. Johns River flow better into and out of the lake.

The Friends of Lake Jesup group has been very active. They watch over these projects. They also help find new ways to improve the lake.

Local Businesses Around the Lake

There are small businesses near Lake Jesup. These include restaurants, fish camps, and airboat tours. They offer fun ways to enjoy the lake.