People walk on the north shore of Scott Lake on Thursday as birds feed on fish that died after being left high and dry when the lake's water was sucked into sinkholes that opened underneath it. Last week, the water came up close to the line of grass near the houses

Photos by Scott Wheeler / Lakeland Ledger

THE LAKE IS ALMOST DRY

Not the greatest view for some of Lakeland's biggest and best known executives and business leaders and their families from their quarter million dollar and more homes.

It's been more than a week since Scott Lake began losing water into two --- possibly up to four --- sinkholes. Now, the water is almost gone, with alligators and snapping turtles fighting to stay alive and the smell of dead fish covering the area.

Thankfully, only one home has been damaged for now.

So, what happens now? It will be at least a week before it will be safe enough for scientists and engineers to investigate further.

Scott Lake could fix itself, or residents may have to pay to fill the sinkholes with cement grout, clay, or some other barrier. Although the state Department of Enviromental Protection owns the bottom of the lake by state law, it has been a private lake for over 25 years. That means residents who live along the lakeshore would have to pay for any restoration project.