Lake Apopka Through the Years

Lake Apopka Through the Years. . Lake Apopka has been home to generations of people who settled in this area. Over the years, the Lake has thrived and fallen into decline. It is now in recovery and revival since the 1990s, and is central to the Green Mountain Scenic Byway., Beginnings , The area was originally the home of a large population of Native Americans. The Acuera tribe of the Timucua confederation were living here when the Spaniards arrived in the 16th Century., Agriculture , Cotton, the primary crop before the Civil War, was replaced by vegetables after the war. Slow transportation via wagon on sandy trails prompted construction of the Apopka-Beauclair Canal in 1879., The railroad arrived before the canal could be completed in 1888, and citrus eclipsed vegetables., Decline , Around the time of world war two, a levee was built to drain water from 20,000 acres along the Lake's north shore for vegetable farming. Thirty years of seasonal flooding and draining dumped phosphorus and pesticides into the Lake. Effluents from Winter Garden's sewer plant and the Winter Garden Citrus Products plant contributed to the rapid decline in the lake's water quality., Tourism and Fishing , Lake Apopka was one of Central Florida's main attractions during and after world war two. The region was widely known as "the large-mouth bass capital" during that time period, attracting the rich and famous for outdoor fun., Lake Apopka Today , Restoration of the lake began in the 1990s, and measures to protect the recovering ecosystem continue today. The region surrounding Lake Apopka is thriving, drawing a variety of visitors: cyclists, birdwatchers, fishing enthusiasts, hikers, joggers and eco-tourists., Birding and Wildlife Festivals , The Lake draws thousands to the area annually. Birdapalooza is a highlight each January, as is the Wings and Wildflower festival every October. Both are great times to introduce children to the splendid natural diversity of Lake Apopka., Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive , The wildlife drive showcases the majestic return of a stunning bird and wildlife population. This new attraction on the north shore of Lake Apopka has been open since 2014. An average of 3000 to 8000 people visit the wildlife drive per month as of 2016., [photo captions] , . Photographers and birders are drawn to the North Shore of Lake Apopka, a major birding destination. The Purple Gallinule represents the gorgeous bird population. , . Green Mountain Overlook on the Lake Apopka Loop Trail , . An alligator relaxes along the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Photographers enjoy the ease of spotting a variety of species along the North Shore of Lake Apopka, from frogs to rabbits, birds and alligators.