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Your Local Community Supporting the Clean Lakes Concept
Student Volunteers Make Difference
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Lake Blue Heron is waiting and hoping for the much needed and anticipated rain to come. As everyone waits for the lake to refill, the concern of weed growth has been an ongoing issue. Some hard working high school students have taken up the challenge to assist in the control of these invasive weeds. The Clean Lakes Project wants to take a moment and thank these students for their efforts! With the use of machetes and sweat, these students have successfully knocked down invasive shore line weeds such as sesbania that was such a problem last years around the lake shore.
This work by hand is the only way to address this due to the soft muck in the area; and with the avoidance of using herbicides which can have additional off-target affects. The work the students are doing takes effort but is a much more environmentally sound method of weed control. Sesbania can rapidly form thick dense stands around the lake displacing native plants, preventing the needed shore line buffers that provide essential food and shelter for native wildlife. These students have provided a wonderful service for our lake and neighborhood, if you see them out there working, take a minute and thanks these wonderful young adults for their efforts!
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The efforts of a few can make a big difference for an entire community!
Joe Barnett took the initiative to inform, arrange and participate in a clean-up of Lake Petty Gulf within Killearn Lakes Plantation on July 7, 2007. You might have seen his article in the Northeast Chronicles discussing the clean-up entitled,
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Killearn Lakes to Clean Lake and Enjoy Cookout or you might have received an invitation to join in the clean-up effort.
The efforts of Joe and his neighbors resulted in the collection of 5 canoe loads of plastic bags, fast food trash, a road sign, a tackle box, a chair, a table, shoes, toys, balls, assorted wood and LOTS of water bottles and cans. Material such as the plastic bottles and cans were recycled. Most of this material appeared to be transported from the streets and into the stormwater drains that eventually flow into the lake.
As the team of neighbors collected this trash from the lake, it was noted that the water clarity was poor due to suspended particulates from surficial runoff. There appeared to be sediment runoff from newer homes and an obvious lack of adequate vegetation to slow and filter this runoff. Visibility within this water was only 2 feet while it should be substantially more. It is imperative that each resident continues to make the efforts to control the stormwater leaving their property through best management practices. Many easy steps can be taken to aid in this cleaning and filtration process. In addition, it is important to take the effort to dispose of trash and recyclable items in an appropriate manner, this supports the reduction of trash/garbage pick up days. These practices are good for everyone in our community! Thank you Dr. Barnett, for your efforts and dedication.
The Florida Yard and Neighborhoods (FYN) program has evaluated the Graves family home in our neighborhood and found environmentally responsible landscape practices throughout the property.
The Leon County Extension yard advisors found the Grave's yard met the required practices for all landscapes related to the FYN scale. There were no invasive species on the property, it was apparent recycle of all organic refuse back into the landscape, use of mulch is extensive and properly applied, and very rare, if ever, use of any pesticides.
The plant selection and placement were found to be excellent for the shaded conditions. Not having an irrigation system allowed for maximum points for a landscape designed to mostly exist on rainfall. Only recommended fertilizer for our area is used and any such applications are done sparingly.
The advisors were most impressed in the way the Grave family created natural areas that are self-mulching and permit indigenous ground covers, such as the partridge berry in your back yard. They likewise took notice of the accommodations made to attract and service wildlife, in so limited a footprint.
There was no evidence of pests or plantings prone to pests. The sloping nature of the lot does create a storm water runoff problem, but the lawn advisors feel the use of plantings and bedding in wash-prone areas minimizes the erosive effects of run-off. |
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Joe Barnett is one of our neighbors taking the responsibility of keeping our local lakes as clean as possible through his personal gardening and home maintenance activities.
In doing so, he and his family have recognized that there are fundamental practices they can do at home to improve the storm water quality that leaves their property. In addition, he has created a beautiful landscape that enhances the value and level of enjoyment of his property for all.
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A few of the initiatives that Joe and his family have undertaken include:
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- Establishment of a mixture of plants including wax myrtle, cherry laurel, cypress, holly, button bush and ferns that together increase the amount of water filtered before entering surface waters or returning to the recharge ground water. The planting and nurturing of native trees to our area ensure that they will thrive.
- Thoughtful planting schemes such as rain gardens and leaving a natural buffer by the lake protect our lakes and streams from excessive sheet flow and reduce the amount of erosion and sediment deposits that enter our lakes.
- These areas also serve for valuable wildlife habitat providing food and shelter for our diverse Florida wildlife.
- Composting yard waste such as grass clippings and leaves that can be recycled on site to provide nutrients to the soil and reduce your cost of waste disposal.
- Being conscious of fertilization and assuring that it stays where it will do the most good, around the plants not depositing in the down-gradient lake.
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Thank you Joe and your family for sharing your efforts, and showing all of us how easy it can be to take steps in our own backyard to make a personal difference and to be
Stewards of our Environment. |
Native Nurseries
Location:
1661 Centerville Rd
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Nursery Hours:
Monday through Saturday
8:00 am to 6:00 pm, closed on Sunday
They can be reached at (850)386-8882 |
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Join their online newsletter by going to http://www.nativenurseries.com
Our mission at Native Nurseries is to educate, inspire and assist people in our community to preserve, manage and develop their lands, gardens and yards to benefit native wildlife and to promote awareness of the interrelationships of all living things.
The Clean Lakes Project wants to thank Native Nurseries for their support of this project by their kind donation to the Clean Lakes Raffle being held on April 28 th at Lake Monkey Business, Killearn Lakes Kids Fishing Contest!
If you know of a local business or neighbor that promotes the concepts of The Clean Lake Project, and could be highlighted on this page, please email us at: cleanlakesproject@gmail.com
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