FELLSMERE — The lake hasn’t been built yet, but the City of Fellsmere is pursuing a $430,000 grant to help build a boating facility, including a dock and two ramps on the extreme northwest corner of the city. St. Johns River Water Management District is constructing a 10,000-acre lake adjacent to the boat site for stormwater treatment.
In all, the project could cost approximately $700,000 – a cost to be borne by Fellsmere, St. Johns River Water Management District and the boat site’s property owner Fellsmere Joint Venture. Of that, the city expects to contribute about $26,000 worth of staff services. The city would not be out-of-pocket for the project.
“This has been a long-term effort,” City Manager Jason Nunemaker told the City Council Thursday night. “We’re very optimistic.”
Fellsmere Joint Venture is expected to provide engineering design services to the cause, as well as a long-term lease of land to the city for the facility.
If approved, “it will be one heck of an amenity to have,” Nunemaker said of the project.
The project consists to two boat ramps, a dock, a staging area, parking for 32 boat trailers and 12 passenger vehicles. There would also be restroom facilities and a picnic area.
The city anticipates St. Johns River Water Management District to kick in about $200,000 to the project, though its board has not yet approved the expenditure.
“They have been receptive,” Community Development Director Mark Mathes said St. Johns’ board. He explained that the district had planned to build a smaller boat access in that area.
The property owner, Fellsmere Joint Venture, worked with St. Johns to relocate the public access to provide safer entry and be more functional than the district originally planned.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Fellsmere Councilwoman Sara Savage of the planned boat access.
St. Johns River Water Management District expects to have the 10,000-acre Headwaters Lake built by 2015. Mathes explained that the district is building up earthen walls around the lake bed and then it would be flooded.
The boat access would be located off Fellsmere Grade Road, four miles west of Babcock Street (County Road 507), west of the National Elephant Center, which is due to open by the end of this year or the start of next.
Mathes said he wasn’t sure when they would hear about the grant’s approval but said it could possibly come in a couple months or by July.
