Sink holes open up in lake

[John L.]

A couple of sinkholes developed in a local lake in this area, making the water level drop 8 to 10' vertically. Is this something worth looking into? The water in that lake is very murky, wonder if the sinkholes go right into the aquifer?

[DeWayne]

Recalling the composition of most lake bottoms in that area (grew up in Lakeland) it is doubtful that they did much more than make the bottom a bit deeper. Still, you never know until you take a closer look.

[DeWayne]

Just saw that this event occured in Scott Lake on the south side of Lakeland. The entire area there has been reclaimed after being mined for phosphate many years ago, so it is even more doubtful that anything beyond a sludge pit exists beneath the surface. Scott Lake was a nice swim on a hot day(friend used to work as a grounds keeper at one of the condos there) but still not much more than a well manicured phosphate pit.

[Limestone Cowboy]

A couple of sinkholes developed in a local lake in this area, making the water level drop 8 to 10' vertically. Is this something worth looking into? The water in that lake is very murky, wonder if the sinkholes go right into the aquifer?

Would you really want to go into something that might still be collapsing?

Drew

[CaptainSpeleo]

John:

Drew has got a point. Besides the visibility probably being 1' -2' and being icey cold on the bottom, I wouldn't want to be down there and find out the hard way that I'm being sucked down through some muddy opening that's draining the water. I'd give it some time and let things settle down and then see if it's worth checking out. Besides that, I don't want to lose a Wayne's World diving buddy.

Frank

[John L.]

I am dumb, but not stupid. Thats why I was inquing you guys. I know nothing about this. Also, there is only about a foot of vis there normally, and I don't want to go into something I cannot see, or my still be collasping.

[John L.]

http://www.lakelandledger.com/apps/p...606230389/1039

[CaptainSpeleo]

John:

According to the news here, many of those people are under the impression that the problem will fix itself within weeks or months, but they're in for a big surprise. Mother Nature doesn't work that quick.

Frank

[John L.]

Hey Frank,
You got that right. Some of Lakeland's richest folks including Bernie Little live on that lake.

[curtschu]

If the hole has plugged itself.... and If we get 2004 Hurricanes.......Sorry hope we don't.... Then Maybe it will fill back up.. Johns lake in Clarmont did. It was just was dry and in One season it filled back up once the rains came. Experts were saying five years of normal rain but they were wrong.

Curt