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Jess Van Dyke
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Jess Van Dyke
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Jess Van Dyke manages lakes for the Division of Aquatic Plants in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, where he uses every means at his disposal to preserve and protect lakes throughout North Florida. He sits on numerous citizens' advisory groups, gives presentations, visits landowners who have problems with their lakes, kills Chinese Tallow for fun and generally works in the light of day or undercover to protect our lakes.
Fortunately for us, he lives in Leon County, and is unstoppable in his zeal to protect Lakes Iamonia, Jackson, Munson and Miccosukee. This may take the form of finding funds for clean up and restoration efforts, or standing toe to toe with government personnel to prevent unnecessary habitat destruction. As staff support from DEP to Leon County's Water Resource Citizens' Advisory Committee, he offers advice, education and counsel others who are appointed to make policy recommendations on water resource protection. Whatever the question relating to lakes, he takes the time to suggest not only courses of action, but strategies as well. Jess is also a valued a member of the group that wrote Blueprint 2000.
He is tireless in his enthusiasm for the task of protecting aquatic habitat. Here's an example: A large part of urban Tallahassee, since its beginning, has drained into Lake Munson. A once beautiful cypress lake, Munson had become a polluted eyesore full of trash. Finally the money was found to begin cleanup efforts. In this time of drought, the opportunity was prime. But even though the lake was virtually dry, the engineering plans called for a diversion canal through a beautiful stand of old growth cypress. No facts or reasoning would alter the planned action. Jess went to the next Leon County Commission meeting, waited through the whole meeting for "Citizens to be Heard" and stood up to present his own plan that would prevent the need for the diversion canal, saving valuable cypress habitat and $250,000. Commissioners agreed.
But it didn't stop at that. Thirty large cypresses at the mouth of the watercourse entering the lake faced the saws. Jess went out, realized the survey lines were incorrectly marked, took pictures of himself in front of a HUGE cypress that was to be cut, and emailed the photos to all of us water people. The ensuing barrage of calls and letters stopped unnecessary habitat destruction yet again. And the survey WAS wrong. This is just one crisis averted. Over the 26 years he's been at DEP, there have been many. We're lucky to have Jess Van Dyke.
Nancy Caire Miller
Past Chair, Sierra Club, Big Bend Group
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