Waterfront Property Owner's Guide - CHNEP Water Atlas

W A T E R F R O N T P R O P E R T Y O W N E R S G U I D E

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

NONPOINT SOURCE MANAGEMENT & WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

2600 Blair Stone Road • Mailstation 3570Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 • (850) 488-3605www.dep.state.fl.us/water/stormwater/index.htm

Prepared By:

MICHAEL M. SCHEINKMAN

ERIC H. LIVINGSTON

GREG KNECHT

December 2001

Funded By:

The preparation and publication of thisbooklet was funded in part by a grant fromthe U.S. Environmental Protection Agencythrough the Nonpoint Source ManagementProgram pursuant to Section 319 of theFederal Clean Water Act.

COVER PHOTOGRAPH:Lake Bradford, Leon County,Florida – Location courtesy ofthe William H. Lane family.

DEPA

RTM

ENT

OFEN

VIRO

NMENTAL PROTECTION

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 3


T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Citizen Action – Getting Involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

What is Water Pollution? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Sources of PollutantsPoint Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Nonpoint Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Stormwater Runoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

How You Can HelpStormwater Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Best Management Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Stormwater BMPs For Homeowners . . . . . . . . 12

Down Spouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Cisterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Porous Pavement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Vegetated Buffers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Reshaping and Contouring . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Terracing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Watershed Scale Stormwater BMPs For Communities and Neighborhoods . . . . . . 13

Swales and Berms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Retention Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Detention Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Pet Wastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Septic Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Motor Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Fueling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Boat Waste Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Boat Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Exotic Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Boat Washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Florida Yards and Neighborhoods – Creating a Florida Friendly Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Basic Principles of FYN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Right Plant, Right Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Use Fertilizer Sparingly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Consider Alternatives to Chemical Pesticides . . . . 21

Integrated Pest Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Insecticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Herbicides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Chemical Storage and Disposal. . . . . . . . . . . . 24Yard Waste Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Composting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Shoreline Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Shoreline Vegetation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Rip Rap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Gabions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Seawalls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Water Level Fluctuation Has Many Benefits . . . . . . . 32

Establishing Reasonable Expectations. . . . . . . . . . . . 34Assessing and Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Biology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Toxicology Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Developing a WaterResource Management Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Funding Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Florida Forever Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Section 319 Grants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37State Revolving Fund (SRF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Stormwater Utility Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Special Districts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Additional Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40


F O R E W O R D & A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

his document is the result of many individualefforts to update “The Waterfront Property Owner’s

Guide” that was initially published in November 1979 bythe East Central Florida Regional Planning Council.

The original version of the Guide, for which there is stilla strong demand, served the citizen’s of Florida very wellfor more than two decades. We would be thrilled if thispublication endured the test of time nearly as well and arethankful to those who came before us for leaving a solidfoundation of science and common sense to build upon.Eric Livingston, who first saw the need to update theGuide, is acknowledged for his vision and support of theproject, and editorial reviews of dozens of drafts. MikeScheinkman created the document through the selectionand use of parts of the former Guide as well as othersources of public and contributed information. He thenrearranged and rewrote almost everything until the mate-rial eventually made sense as a whole and becamepleasant to read. Kimberly Jackson and Devan Branscumrevived the project on several occasions when it wasmired in technical difficulties by providing modern com-puter skills, training and technical support, and aregreatly deserving of recognition. Also within theDepartment, suggestions, materials and assistance were

provided by Greg Knecht, Patti Sanzone, Mike Thomas,Dan Dewiest and Dave Worley of the Nonpoint Sourceand Water Quality Standards Section; Doug Fry,Katherine Gilbert and Geoff Rabinowitz of the SubmergedLands Program; Jesse Van Dyke and Rob Kipker of theBureau of Invasive Plant Management; and Cliff Rohlkeof the Northwest District Office. All provided consider-able expertise in their specialties, which helped improvethe document in more ways than can be stated.

Finally, contributions by Amy Richard, Christine Kelly-Begazo, Mark Brenner, Vic Ramey and Ann Murray of theUniversity of Florida; Paul Thorpe and Faith Eidse of theNorthwest Florida Water Management District; BennetteBurkes of Consolidated Treatment Systems, Inc.; SeanMcGlynn of McGlynn Laboratories and Lori AnnPollgreen of Geographic Design Company are appreci-ated.

We apologize if we have failed to mention anyone whoenabled this new version of The Waterfront PropertyOwners Guide to be produced and hope that we inspireand encourage all Florida residents to be active in caringfor our state’s aquatic resources. Your efforts can make adifference!

T

4 W A T E R F R O N T P R O P E R T Y O W N E R S G U I D E – 2 0 0 1


I N T R O D U C T I O N

his Waterfront Property Owner’s Guide was pre-pared to educate and broaden awareness on the

causes, effects and prevention of water pollution. Thispublication is directed toward waterfront propertyowners. Why? Because they:

• typically are the most affected if water quality problems occur,

• can have a tremendous influence on whether water quality problems occur, and

• need to be aware of the many tools that can be used to solve these problems.

Many of the ideas in this booklet are relevant to allFloridians and even non-residents and visitors. We havefocused on everyday activities that can affect the qualityof our lakes, streams and other waterbodies. Clean wateris essential to all forms of life. By setting a good exam-ple and convincing your neighbors to follow the tipscontained in this Guide, you can help to assure that thequality of your valuable aquatic resources are protectedor enhanced.

Regardless of where you live in Florida, a waterbody isnot far away. In fact, each piece of property is part of awatershed, which is the total land area that drains to awaterbody. As a consequence, we all live downstream,and we all share responsibility for keeping our water-bodies healthy.

I N T R O D U C T I O N 5

T

overnmental agencies receive many calls dailyabout water quality. A typical caller might ask,

“When will someone be out here to clean up mylake?“ No one can offer simple, quick and cheap solu-tions to our environmental problems. Governmentalone cannot develop, fund and implement them.

Instead, solving water quality problems dependslargely on citizens taking collective responsibility fortheir actions. After reading this Guide, it shouldbecome apparent that we are all contributing todegraded water quality conditions. Pollution from ourhomes, businesses, roads and farms is washed into thestate’s waters by rain or irrigation water. This isknown as “nonpoint source” pollution because it isdiffuse and, unlike “point sources”, doesn’t alwaysenter a waterbody from a pipe. Unlike many othertypes of pollution, WE cause this pollution and WEcan stop it. That is why nonpoint source pollution isalso called POINTLESS PERSONAL POLLUTION.How can we reduce pointless personal pollution? Afew ways we can help are listed below. Others arementioned throughout this guide.

• Shop wisely - Buy products labeled biodegradable, non-toxic, or water soluble. They readilydecompose and will not pol-lute surface or ground waters.

• Store Products Safely - Keeptoxic products in originalcontainers, closed andclearly marked to preventspillage or misuse.

• Maintain septic systems -Inspect them every two orthree years and pump outas needed. Avoid usingstrong chemicals in thehousehold. When rinseddown the drain, theydestroy the bacteria thattreat the wastes in yoursystem. The result ismore pollution in yourwaterbody.

• Connect all Wastewater Discharges to the Sewer Lineor Septic Tank System - Check your washing machineand sink drainage outfall location. These dischargesshould be hooked into your sewer or septic tanksystem instead of being discharged onto your property.This is important because stormwater runoff will pickup these impurities and transport them into the water.Odor and sanitation problems have also been reportedas a result of improper wastewater disposal.

• Service Your Car Regularly - Frequent inspections andmaintenance prevent leakage of motor oil, antifreezeand other fluids that can end up in your waterbody.Take used motor oil and antifreeze to a recyclingcenter.

• Maintain Your Housing Development’s StormwaterSystem – Stormwater management systems must bemaintained to continue operating properly. Propertyowner associations usually are legally responsible forthis maintenance. Unfortunately, they are often unpre-pared for this task. Groups such as Adopt-a-Pond(based in Hillsborough County) can help you developa strategy for operating and maintaining your facili-ties. Determine who is available to help in your area

and seek their advice.

Citizen involvement is anessential part of solving water

quality problems. Theinterest in caring forFlorida’s environmenthas prospered prima-rily due to the effortsof concerned citi-zens. Unpaid and

unsung individualswho form groups canuse the momentum of

numbers to accomplishmuch. Such groups have initiated new governmental programs,reformed old ones, andeven restored their ownlakes. They have gone tocourt to secure enforce-



C I T I Z E N A C T I O N - G E T T I N G I N V O L V E D

G

ment of conservation laws and have intervened in sup-port of agencies trying to implement them. Find outwho is already environmentally active in your commu-nity or start a group to meet specific needs.

When was the last time you spent an hour or two at acounty or city commission meeting or workshop? Thisopportunity is one of the rights our forefathers fought sodesperately to attain. You can have a voice in what goes

on in your waterbody, watershed or community.However, the choice between taking an active part orignoring the issues is your own.

We hope water quality will become an important con-cern of yours. If so, collect information to find out aboutyour watershed and waterbody. Become aware of thevarious groups that may be active in your area. Find outwhat laws or governmental programs affect land andwater management in your watershed. Attend and par-ticipate in public meetings. Write your elected officialsand contact your local stormwater or water resourcemanagement staff. Add your name to interested personsmailing lists and become an active participant in yourwatershed. Remember, if we each do a little, we can doa lot to ensure clean water in Florida’s rivers, lakes andestuaries. Be part of the solution to pointless personalpollution. You can do some of these things today toensure cleaner water tomorrow. It’s your right, yourresponsibility, and part of the legacy you will leave forfuture generations.

C I T I Z E N A C T I O N - G E T T I N G I N V O L V E D 7

Residents aquascaping their wet detention pond.

very river, lake, and estuary goes through anaging process, called eutrophication, whereby it

eventually becomes dry land. Gradually, the water-body changes into a marsh, then a swamp, and finallyuplands. The eutrophication process occurs naturallyover hundreds of thousands of years but it may begreatly accelerated by the activities of humans. This iscalled cultural eutrophication, which is a verycommon type of water pollution.

Eutrophic means well nourished. Lots of nutrientsstimulate the growth of plants and algae. The mostabundant nutrients are nitrogen and phosphorus.Minor nutrients include sulfur, manganese, iron, andothers. Nutrients are contained in fertilizers, petwastes, leaves, dust, debris, and detergent, just to namea few sources. If your waterbody is too well nourished,it may become hyper-eutrophic and fill in from theaccumulation of plants, dead plankton, and sediments.



W H A T I S W A T E R P O L L U T I O N ?

E

The growth of an alga orplant bloom is often arapid and dramatic phe-nomenon. A bloom maycause lots of oxygen to beproduced in the daytime asa result of photosynthesis.However, at night thealgae use oxygen, leadingto a depletion of oxygen.These swings from high tolow oxygen content aretoo much for many speciesto survive. The organismsthat can survive are pollu-tion tolerant species suchas shad, gar, and catfish,which are usually consid-ered less desirable. Gamefish such as bass, bluegills,and speckled perch areusually among the first to disappear because theyneed high quality habitat. Some algae blooms alsorelease substances that are extremely toxic to fish,domestic animals, and birds.

Nutrients are not the only pollutants that affect ourwaterbodies. Sediments from dirt roads, construc-tion sites, and other erodible areas cause turbidity orcloudiness in the water. This can block out sunlightthat is needed for aquatic plants to grow properly.Sediment can also clog the gills of fishes and

blanket the bottom of waterbodies with a layer ofsilt, causing many beneficial organisms a lot of prob-lems. Toxic substances, such as heavy metals,hydrocarbons, and pesticides, can also cause bigproblems. Let’s take a look at where these pollutantscome from and what we can do to help keep themout of our waterbodies.

W H A T I S W A T E R P O L L U T I O N ? 9

POINT SOURCES

ears ago, domestic and industrial wastewater effluent were the major sources of pollutants

to many lakes and streams. Additionally, most household laun-dry detergentscontained largeamounts of phos-phorus. Modifi-cation of ourwastewater treat-ment plants haseliminated mostpoint source dis-charge of nutri-ents to Floridawaters, and phos-phorus is nolonger containedin most deter-gents used in Florida. Therefore, while Florida still hasabout 1,100 discharging point sources, they are nolonger the main source of pollution being discharged toour surface waters.

NONPOINT SOURCES

Nonpoint sources of pollution include agriculture,silviculture, mining, urbanization, constructionsites, landfills, septictanks, and, in general,all human activities.Together these con-tribute the majority ofthe sediments, nutri-ents, pesticides, heavymetals, oils, greases,and other contami-nants to our water re-sources. As any water-front property ownercan attest, the associat-ed symptoms of turbid-ity, algae and plantblooms, fish kills,odor, and unsightlinessare undesirable. Once

people are familiar with nonpoint source pollution, it iseasy for them to see how everyday activities, such as themisuse of common household lawn and garden prod-ucts, can adversely affect a waterbody. Unfortunately,these products don’t always stay where we put them

on our lawns andaround our plants.As little as one-halfinch of rainfall cangenerate runoff thatmay transport pol-lutants from thesesources to your wa-terbody.

STORMWATERRUNOFF

As an area is urban-ized, the construc-tion of streets,

sidewalks, parking lots, and buildings (including ourhomes) disturbs natural vegetation, as well as coversand compacts the soil. The land surface becomesmore impervious, which prevents rainfall from soak-ing into the ground as before. This increases the vol-ume and speed of runoff. Historically, we have beenconcerned with diverting runoff from developed areasas quickly as possible to minimize flooding of ourhomes, businesses and property. To do this,

we built highly efficientdrainage systems con-sisting of pipes orditches that convey the runoff quickly tothe nearest waterbody.Unfortunately, to solvethe flooding problem,we unwittingly createdanother problem – pol-lution of our waterbod-ies. Stormwater runoffpicks up leaves, litter,heavy metals, pesti-cides, fertilizers, oils,greases and other sub-stances left behind byour everyday activities.



S O U R C E S O F P O L L U T A N T S

Y

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

ince 1982, all stormwater systems in Florida haveincluded features to treat and remove much of the

pollution. However, older “drainage systems” continueto discharge stormwater pollutants directly into ourwaterbodies. Retrofitting these drainage systems toreduce pollutant loads is very difficult and expensive, butit can and is being done in many places. The followingprinciples, which are discussed in the DEP booklet“Stormwater Management - A Guide for Floridians”,should influenceyour stormwatermanagement efforts:

• It is much easierand cheaper toprevent problems than to correctthem later. Goodsite planning is the first and per-haps most impor-tant step. Low im-pact design princi-ples should be fol-lowed, especiallyminimizing imper-vious surface andavoiding removalof vegetation.

• Every piece ofland is part of alarger watershed.We all live downstream!

• The stormwater management system shouldmimic (and use) the features and functions ofthe natural environment that are largely capital,energy and maintenance free.

• Attempt to approximate pre-development condi-tions for volume, rate, timing and pollutant loadfrom your property.

• Maximize on-site storage of stormwater and neverdischarge directly to surface or ground water.

• Begin designing your system at the outfall to awaterbody and work uphill.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS)

BMPs are the actual methods that are used to re-duce stormwater pollution. BMPs are classified intotwo broad categories – Nonstructural andStructural. Nonstructural controls are preventivemeasures. They include good land use and site

planning, mini-mizing imperviousarea, good house-keeping techniques,street sweeping,storm drain stencil-ing, and landscapesuggestions de-scribed in the sec-tion ahead onFlorida Yards andN e i g h b o rh o o d s .Nonstructural BMPshelp by eliminatingor limiting thegeneration of run-off and of pollu-tants at the source.They are consid-ered the first lineof defense and arethe easiest to do.Structural con-trols, on the other

hand, are what we typically think of when stormwa-ter management is mentioned. They include facili-ties such as detention ponds, retention basins, ex-filtration trenches, pervious paving and filters.Most structural BMPs are costly, require a consider-able amount of engineering to implement, and mustbe maintained regularly. Please refer to Chapter 6 ofFDEP’s Florida Land Development Manual A Guideto Sound Land and Water Management if you are in-terested in learning more about BMPs. A copy maybe obtained by calling the Nonpoint SourceManagement and Water Quality Standards Sectionat (850) 488-3605.

H O W “ Y O U ” C A N H E L P 11


H O W “ Y O U ” C A N H E L P

S

STORMWATER BMPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

Several stormwater BMPs can be built and used byindividual property owners. These include the fol-lowing:

• Direct DOWN SPOUTS from rain gutters to your lawnor flower bed rather than your driveway. This will pre-vent water from draining directly to a storm sewer andyour favorite waterbody.

• Another goodchoice is to setup a rain barrelor CISTERN tocapture yourroof runoff anduse it to irri-gate your yard.

• Use POROUS PAVING blocks or other pervious materialsuch as rock or shell for patios, driveways and path-ways so rain may soak into these areas rather than runoff your property.

• Establish a VEGETATED BUFFER between your propertyand the water as a final filter for runoff. This “ripari-an” vegetation helps reduce pollutants in surface andground waters flowing into a waterbody.

• RESHAPE OR CONTOUR your property to reduce slopesand provide areas where water can pond temporarilyand soak into the ground. Include these areas withinyour overall landscaping plan.

• If your property is steeply sloped, then the pollutionpotential is greater. Stormwater runoff cascadingdown a steep yard with almost no deterrents usuallycauses erosion. TERRACING your yard can help slowdown the water, minimizing the potential for erosion.This in turn can help reduce nutrient loading and tur-bidity problems for downstream waterbodies. It canprovide other benefits too. Terracing can create dra-matic views and broaden your yard’s usage. For exam-ple, one tier could be used as a patio; a second couldbe reserved for gardens with an open grassy space forvolleyball or other types of recreation. The last tier,which would probably meet the water’s edge, could in-corporate a swale and berm system and some benefi-cial shoreline vegetation. Clover is ideal for groundcover near the water. It doesn’t need mowing or fertil-izers. Avoid the temptation to establish an artificialsandy beach. It provides very little habitat value com-pared to more naturally vegetated shorelines.


WATERSHED SCALE STORMWATER BMPS FORCOMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS

Some stormwater BMPs are more appropriate for commu-nities or neighborhoods to implement rather thanindividual homeowners, because they involve the storageor redirecting of larger amounts of runoff. This requiresmore planning and reaching consensus with neighbors toensure success. These watershed scale BMPs include:

SWALES AND BERMS

Like ditches, swales collect stormwater. Unlike ditches,swales are not deep with straight sides. Swales have gentlysloping sides, are wider than they are deep, and are vege-tated. Side slopes should be a minimum of 3 feethorizontally to 1 foot vertically. These dimensions spreadrainwater over a broad area, which slows it down, allow-ing temporary ponding. This design also makes it easier tomow and periodically remove trash and other debris.Swales are meant to hold water only during or shortly aftera storm. Swale blocks or raised driveway culverts can beused to further promote ponding and infiltration, particu-larly when the swale has a steep angle. Swale blocks can bemade of soil, wood or concrete.

Swales are often used alongside streets, but they alsomay be incorporated elsewhere in the landscape, such asin your own front or back yard to improve stormwaterquality. They are particularly useful as a final buffer nearthe edge of a waterbody to prevent the direct dischargeof runoff.

Proper placement of a swale and berm system can slowdown and provide treatment of stormwater runoff to ourwaterbodies. The swale catches the flow, which is thenheld back by the berm. Impurities sink to the bottom

and the cleaner water on the surface spills over the bermwhen the swale becomes full. Slowly, the stormwater inthe swale evaporates or percolates through the soil. Thishelps to clean the stormwater runoff before it seeps to a nearby waterbody.

Swales and berms can be built with such gentle slopesand contours that they can be safely used in play-grounds. Thus, a playground or your yard is a perfectlocation for them because these areas are not often usedduring wet and rainy days. A Seminole County develop-ment has encircled a lake with a swale and berm systemwhere it doubles as a jogging trail. The various uses ofswales are an excellent example of how stormwaterabatement techniques can serve multiple purposes.


RETENTION BASINS OR AREAS

If you live in an area with sandy soils or where thewater table is well beneath the ground’s surface, youcan create retention or infiltration areas. These aresimply small depressions in your landscape wherethe water can pond for a short time before soaking

into the ground or evaporating.These areas can be planted with appropriate native vegetationthat help to maintain soil perme-ability, filter runoff, and use nutrients. These types of landscapedretention areas are also called“bioretention” practices.

DETENTION PONDS

If you live in an area where thewater table is near the ground sur-face, a wet detention pond may bethe right BMP for managing yourstormwater. Wet ponds are not oftenused on residential lots, but if yourproperty has a natural contour thatforces water to drain into one or twolocations, a pond may be a good

BMP. However, a berm and swale system would beless expensive and easier to install. Detention pondstypically are used to serve large areas, such as sub-divisions or shopping centers. Depending on thecharacteristics of your subdivision (topography,drainage and soils) and development plans, yourneighborhood may have one wet detention pond orseveral ponds located in different areas.


PET WASTES

Pet wastes are picked up from the yard or street bystormwater runoff and carried to a waterbody. Thesewastes contain nutrients that cause algae blooms, andbacteria and viruses that can make a waterbody unsafefor swimming or harvesting shellfish. Even smallamounts of fecal wastes entering a waterbody increasethe chances that viruses or other disease-causing organ-isms will be present. The most common ailmentsresulting from human and pet waste contamination arestomach viruses, ear infections, and skin rashes.However, many other illnesses including typhoid,cholera, and the infamous Legionnaire’s Disease are alsoknown to be waterborne.

Removal of petwastes by propertyowners can beextremely beneficial.We suggest burying itin your yard awayfrom the water or anyflow way (gully,ditch, etc.) or placingit in the trash.

Another common petrelated problem oc-curs when home-owners wash theiranimals in a lake orstream. Many of theproducts used, suchas flea and tick sham-poos or sprays, aretoxic to aquatic life.Bathe your pets onuplands, which canabsorb the rinsewater.

There is little a citizen can do about the waste con-tributed by wildlife with one notable exception.Ducks! Many species of ducks are fond of feeding onflowers, particularly roses. Their excrement is oftenleft behind to mark their territory which results inspotted lawns as well as polluted waterbodies. Avoidplanting flowery ornamentals such as roses near water-bodies.

SEPTIC TANKS

Serious water quality problems can occur when septictank and drainfield systems are located too near awaterbody. Untreated or improperly treated sewagemay reach the water. Unfiltered sewage that reachessurface water causes odor problems, increases nutri-ents, and is a source of disease. Ground water can alsobe contaminated if septic tank systems are located nearwells or in high water table areas. Waterfront home-owners should connect to the public wastewatertreatment system whenever it is possible.

When an onsite disposal system is needed, waterfrontproperty owners should consider more specialized on-site wastewater systems such as aerobic units. Althoughmore expensive and maintenance intensive, aerobicunits provide a much higher quality effluent. Thismeans less nutrients to affect your waterbody. Aerobicunits can be grouped together for commercial applica-


tions or they can be incorporated into a residentiallandscape quite nicely, as shown in the photo below,where the green lid is barely visible.

When a septic tank is the only available option, home-owners should become familiar with the healthregulations, permitting, and maintenance requirementsassociated with them. You also need to know when yourseptic tank was installed, how big it is, where the tankand drainfield are located, and when it was lastinspected or pumped out. Agencies that can furnishinformation concerning septic tank systems include:

1. Local County Health Department

2. City and County Planning Departments

3. Agricultural Extension Agents

4. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Soil permeability is an important characteristic thatdetermines how well septic tanks may work. Soil per-meability is the trait that allows water and air to movethrough the ground. It is influenced by the amount ofgravel, sand, silt, and clay in the soil. Water moves fasterthrough sand and gravel soils than through clay soils. Ifyour soil is either too permeable or not permeableenough, problems may occur from septic tanks.

Construction of a septic tank system on steep slopesnear a waterbody should be avoided. Slopes of less than15% are preferred provided the soils are satisfactory.Ideally, a septic system should slope away from thewaterbody.

The sludge in a septic tank is actually an active microbesolution that converts waste products into carbon andenergy. Solid by-products of this process settle to the

bottom of the tank and the liquids spill over to a drain-field that provides final polishing before seeping into theground water. Do not pour household chemicals such asbleach or other cleansers down drains or the microbesthat are working in the septic tank may die and thesystem will fail. Laundry should be washed throughoutthe week rather than all at one time to avoid overload-ing the system on wash day.

Septic tanks should be inspected every two or threeyears, and be pumped out as needed to prevent thebuildup of solids that can spill over into the drainfieldwhen the tank’s storage capacity is used up. If the drain-field becomes clogged, expensive repairs will be neededto restore the system to proper operating condition.Some distributors promote the use of various productssuch as seed bacteria to start or restart a tank’s microbepopulation, or food to maintain the microbes. These arenot usually necessary. A sufficient supply of microbesand food are inherent in the waste the tank accepts.However, precautions should be taken to keep the drain-field free from the roots of nearby trees. If it cannot belocated away from problem trees, then Root-Out, Root-Be-Gone or some similar product should be consideredand used properly if chosen.


MOTOR BOATS

Small incremental discharges of petroleum productsassociated with boating contribute 137 million gallonsof oil pollution to waterways worldwide every year,according to NASA, which can add up to significantwater quality impacts. Algae and small organisms thatlive in water bodies can be killed immediately by a fuelor oil spill. Even if they should survive the spill, it ispossible for the effects to bioaccumulate, harmingbigger fish and even people and wildlife that eat them.Spills most often occur during the fueling and mainte-nance of engines and boats. They can be preventedthrough common sense and knowledge.

FUELING

• Portable fuel containers should be removed fromthe boat and filled over land or above a docksidecontainment system. Use the correct ratio of fuel tooil for two cycle outboard engines (usually 50:1). Amix that is too rich results in unburned oil beingdischarged into the water.

• Personal watercraft should be driven onto station-ary skids to prevent rocking and to keep the vessellevel while refueling.

• Vent Guards should be installed beneath air vent/over-flow systems for inboard fuel tanks to prevent acci-dental releases.

• Oil absorbing materials should be used in the bilge ofall boats with inboard engines to collect drips andleaks. These should be examined at least once per yearand replaced as needed.

• If you trailer your boat, don’t remove the drain plugwhile on the ramp as shown in the photo below. Thefouled bilge water will pollute the waterbody you justfinished enjoying. Instead, move your boat away fromthe ramp, preferably onto a grassy area well awayfrom the water before pulling the plug.


MAINTENANCE

• Proper maintenance of motor boats and engines isan important factor in maintaining good water qual-ity. Motor boats are prone to leaking oil and gas. Ifyour boat or motor leaks, FIX IT! Keep your enginetuned so that fuel/oil mixtures are completelyburned.

• Painting projects and other major repairs should beperformed over land away from the water. If a boatmust be roll or brush painted or fiberglassed whileon the water, use care to avoid drips or spills. Spraypainting over water should be avoided entirely.Ideally, the work area should be shrouded to preventwind drift when spray painting as shown in thephoto above.

Boat Waste Management

Properly dispose of used oil, oil filters, and fuel filtersat an authorized collection center or landfill. Don’ttoss them in the dumpster at the boat ramp. Contact

your local DEP office for information regarding localcompanies that provide this service. Transmission andhydraulic fluid can be mixed with used oil for recy-cling. Simple carelessness about trash is anotherconcern. Turtles, birds, fish and other critters canbecome entangled in or choke on monofilament fish-ing line, six-pack rings, bottle caps, sandwich bags,and other items that are frequently used on a boat.Your favorite waterbody will quickly lose its appeal ifyou toss your trash overboard. Remember, we are visi-tors on the water but fish and other wildlife live there.Observe one simple courtesy, “leave nothing behindexcept for the gentle wake of your craft“, and ourwaterways will remain much cleaner for all to enjoy.

SLOW DOWN

When cruising along the shoreline, your speed shouldnot exceed 5 M.P.H., and your boat should leave no visible wake. Driving your boat at high speedscauses two environmental problems in addition tobeing dangerous. First, shoreline erosion is


accelerated by the larger wake of a speeding boat. Second,if your waterbody is shallow, the nutrients and sedimentsthat have settled to the bottom become resuspended bythe churning action of a high-speed motor, which maycause turbidity and algae blooms. Prop dredging (bothrunning aground and intentional) should also be avoided.Propeller damage to aquatic plants and bottom habitatmay take many years to repair. Large motors should beprohibited on very small or shallow lakes.

AVOID SPREADING EXOTIC PLANTS AND SEA LIFE

Exotic plants (water hyacinth, hydrilla, Eurasian milfoil,etc.) and sea life (zebra mussels) may become attachedto boats and trailers when used on an affected waterway.These can be very easily and accidentally introduced atyour favorite waterbody. Once introduced, exotics canspread rapidly and become difficult, if not impossible, tocontrol. Left unchecked, these invasive species maydevelop an advantage over native species resulting in aloss of fish and wildlife habitat and a decline in water

quality. Some exotic plants, such as water hyacinth, caneven block navigable waterways. Boat owners shouldcheck their trailers/motors after each use and especiallybefore launching at a new location to prevent the spreadof exotic species. Any that are found should be removedand disposed of in a trash bin. Encourage other boatersto do the same and post warning signs at your boatramps. To learn more about exotic species and how tocontrol them, contact DEPs Bureau of Invasive PlantManagement at (850) 487-2600.

BOAT WASHING

Wash boats over land away from the water as shown inthe below photo. If the boat must be cleaned while onthe water, use phosphate-free and biodegradable prod-ucts rather than conventional cleaners, polishes, anddetergents that can pollute your waterbody. Use spongesand soft towels rather than abrasive processes such as

scraping which can release paint chips and metals to thewater.


ou can help reduce pollution by landscap-ing and managing your property

according to environmentally sound FloridaYards and Neighborhood (FYN) principles. FYNbegan in southwest Florida in the early 1990s toreduce nonpoint source pollution to Sarasotaand Tampa Bays from residential yards. The pro-gram was so popular and beneficial that DEPwanted to expand it statewide. It is offeredthrough the Florida Cooperative ExtensionService (FCES) in cooperation with theUniversity of Florida Institute for Food andAgricultural Sciences. Check with your localFCES office to see if FYN assistance is availablein your area.

A Florida Yard (right) serves as a buffer betweena waterbody and nonpoint sources of pollutionfrom our homes, helping to reduce pollution.

In contrast, a conventional landscape (below)can contribute to the pollution of a prized water-body.

Waterfront property owners, in particular, havea vested interest in keeping the water clean inorder to protect their property values. However,it is important to understand that even yards locatedmany blocks away from the water can affect a water-body, depending on the stormwater managementsystem. Set a good example for your neighbors to follow,

and encourage them to participate. If your good habitscatch on, you will be rewarded with a sparkling, healthywaterbody of which your entire community can beproud.

The Basic Principles of Florida Yards andNeighbor-hoods Include:

RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT SPOT

Plant selection and location are veryimportant to consider. Plants used in land-scaping should be native or well adapted tothe geographic area and the particularcharacteristics of the site. Trying to createthe special circumstances needed toaccommodate an unsuitable plant requiresextra time, care, and money. Moreover, itincreases the need for fertilizers and pesti-cides that can pollute a waterbody.



F L O R I D A Y A R D S & N E I G H B O R H O O D SC R E A T I N G A F L O R I D A F R I E N D L Y L A N D S C A P E

Y

Select native plants that grow slowly. They will attractfewer pests and be more tolerant of diseases than exoticornamentals. They will also require less pruning, whichmeans less work and less yard waste. Group plants withcommon requirements together. This way you can beselective about feeding and watering them only whenthey really need it. Locate plants in the direct sun orshade, or in wet or dry areas, according to their needs.Don’t try to force them to adapt to an inappropriate site.

Lawn areas tend to require more water and fertilizer thanother landscape features, mainly because people overdo itin their desire to have a lawn that looks like a profession-ally maintained green space such as a golf course or ballfield. Turf is OK if it is properly managed and the prop-erty owner has some tolerance for imperfections. Studieshave shown that turf can absorb nitrogen from slowrelease fertilizer as well or better than some ornamentals.Unfortunately, turf is a mono-culture that offers very littlewildlife value. Consequently, turf should be used selec-tively in a landscape for recreational areas or accents toornamental or wildlife zones, rather than as a blanketsolution to the need for groundcover. A mixture of severalgrass types (including weeds) will increase your lawn’spest resistance and help lessen the need for fertilizer andwater when grass is used.

USE FERTILIZERS SPARINGLY

It is wasteful and expensive to fertilize automatically atcertain times of the year. Give nature a chance and fertil-ize only according to need. Planting the right plant in theright place will practically eliminate the need for mostsupplemental feeding. Tosee if fertilizer is needed,do a soil or leaf test by get-ting the test materialsfrom your CountyExtension Agent. Thesetests will determine thecurrent nutritional valueof your soil and provideguidance about the typeand amount of fertilizerthat may be needed, if any.When fertilizer isrequired, natural, organicfertilizers, such as grassclippings and compost,are better for your yardand the environment inmany ways. However, inthe event these are notavailable, and you havedetermined that you needa basic fertilizer, choose

one that contains at least 30% slow release nitrogen andother essential nutrients. It will cost a little more, butfewer applications are required, and it can make a big dif-ference in protecting our waterbodies. Do not applyfertilizer if you anticipate rain. A heavy rain may washmost of it off your property before if is absorbed. Instead,wait for dry weather and then apply just enough water tohelp bind the fertilizer with the soil. Avoid using fertiliz-ers that contain weed killers or insecticides. Suchchemicals should be used only as a last resort when otheroptions fail. It is best to contact the County ExtensionService for advice if you have specific questions.

CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO USING CHEMICAL PESTICIDES

Fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides are collectivelyknown as pesticides. They are designed to kill pests. Theuse of a pesticide is regulated by its’ label, which is fullybacked by state and federal law. Even approved uses ofpesticides have known risks. Inappropriate uses are crim-inal offenses. Despite their many drawbacks, chemicalpesticides are staples in most households. They are usedroutinely by many homeowners on a seasonal basis andselectively on occasion to combat a specific problem. Arechemicals such as these necessary? Have you consideredthe health risks associated with them and the toxic effectsthey may have on your waterbody? Common sense shouldlead us to try less toxic methods first. However, we havebeen conditioned through advertising and the advice ofmany industry experts to resort instead to stronger chem-ical solutions to control pests. We shall examine varioustypes of pesticides in the section ahead, but first let’s con-sider a creative alternative .

F L O R I D A Y A R D S & N E I G H B O R H O O D S 21


INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

IPM is an environmentally friendly approach to pestcontrol. IPM emphasizes the use of pest resistantplants, proper landscape management to encouragenatural enemies of pests, and the selective use(rather than widespread use) of least toxic alterna-tives if pesticides are required.

Avoid pest problems by only planting very tolerantspecies in your yard. Go easy on water and fertilizer.Too much of either causes excessive growth whichattracts pests. Set your lawn mower at a higher leveland prune minimally to leave more foliage in place tosupport the plant.

Don’t overreact to minor damage. Remember that the“good” bugs need some “bad” bugs around as a foodsource. Also, don’t mistake environmental or mainte-nance problems for diseases. For example, Spanishmoss, ball moss andlichens aren’t para-sites, but are plantsthemselves. Theydon’t need to be killedor removed. On thecoasts, irrigating withsalty well water cancause yellowingaround the edges ofleaves and some leafdrop. Breaking outthe arsenal of chemi-cals won’t help a bit.However, bear inmind that there aresome diseases thatcan seriously damageor kill the plants they affect. It is best to contact yourCooperative Extension Service for advice if a concernpersists.

Learning to identify pests is the first step towardstaking action. Detecting small insects can be diffi-cult. Life cycles as short as one week add to theproblem. Try striking the leaves of small branchesagainst a sheet of white paper and use a 10X magni-fying glass to see what’s in your yard. Check theundersides of leaves and look for tell tale signs, suchas sooty mold, on foliage. Soot mold is a harmlessblack fungus that is a byproduct of present or pastpest activity. It grows on a residue, called honeydew,that is secreted by pests. Ants also like honeydew andtheir presence may indicate other pests are around.

Once pests are identified, what should you do? If thedamage is minor, let nature take its course. Healthyplants will usually recover after the pest is gone.Hand picking, pruning or spraying with water can beeffective if the damage is caught early. If the damageis severe and intolerable, and action must be taken,least toxic alternatives should be tried first. Theseinclude insecticide soaps (2 1/2 tablespoons of dishsoap per gallon of water), horticultural oils (add 2tablespoons of vegetable oil to the soap solutiondescribed earlier), and Bacillus thuringenesis or Bt (anatural bacterium useful for controlling caterpillars).Other possibilities that have proven effective overthe years include:

• RYANIA • NICOTINE SULPHATE

• COPPER-LIME MIXES • ROTENONE

• SILICA GEL • SULPHUR

• PYRETHUM (PYRETHRINS) • DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

• LIME SULPHUR

For indoor pests,such as cockroaches,try silica gel or boricacid powder dusted incracks and crevices.Be careful to placethese products wherechildren or pets willnot come into contactwith them.

Establishing a thriv-ing population ofbeneficial bugs canreduce the need forinsecticides. The fol-lowing insects have

been found to be most successful at controllingpests:

• LADYBUGS

(ladybirds, ladybird beetles—these are all the same)

• PREYING MANTIS

• TRICHOGRAMMA

(a pinhead-size parasitic wasp)

• BACILLUS THURINGENESIS

(Bacteria)

• MILKY SPORE POWDER

(a fungus effective against some beetles)


How do you encour-age “good” bugs?Wilderness areascan be created inyour yard for thepurpose of attract-ing birds andbeneficial insects. Isit worth it? Onehouse wren can eat500 insects in anafternoon. A largebrown thrasher con-sumes 6,000 insectsa day. Toads, lizards,and many snakes are harmless and help keep insectsand other pests under control.

There may be some value to using certain plants as bugrepellents. Supposedly, planting onions, chives, andgarlic will help keep aphids in check while radishesplanted with cucumbers will discourage cucumber bee-tles. Try it out for yourself and see what works for you!

INSECTICIDES

Insecticides are chemicals used to kill insects that areconsidered nuisance organisms. The U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency estimates that seventy three millionpounds of active insecticide ingredients are purchasedannually for home and garden use. Ironically, there ismounting evidence that insects develop immunity to theinsecticides that originally controlled them. Continueduse may create a superbug that could defy the toughestpoisons. What most people don’t realize is that, in gen-eral, nature can take pretty good care of itself. Healthyplants can usually fend off pest attacks, while predatorybirds and insects keep threatening species under con-trol. Routine preventive use of strong chemicalpesticides is unnecessary.

If you must use chemical insecticides, carefully read thelist of ingredients on the label. Chlorinated hydrocar-bons are the most dangerous. Creatures can store thesepoisons in their bodies and pass them along, eventuallyto humans. A few to watch out for are listed below (thosewith stars beside them are particularly dangerous):

• Aldrin* • Endosulfan*• Endrin* • Chlorodane• Ethylene dibromide • Perthane• Chlorobenxilatz • Ethylene dichloride• Strobane • Heptachlor*• Dieldrin* • Lindane*

Organophosphates should also be avoided. They do notpersist in the environment as long as the chlorinatedhydrocarbons above, but they are extremely dangerous,especially to the person applying them. They are alsoharmful to pets and to beneficial insects such as honeybees.

Organophosphates that are a concern include:

• Diazinon • Ethion*• Nemacide VC 13 • Bidrin*• Parathion* • Carbonphenothion*• Malathion • Phorate*• Diazathion* • Methyl Parathion*• Disulfoton* • Dursban

Another class of dangerous insecticides is the carba-mates. The most common one is Sevin. It affects allinsects, killing good and bad alike.

HERBICIDES

Herbicides are chemicals used to kill plants. They can beused selectively to kill one kind of plant or indiscrimi-nately applied to kill massive overgrowths. The ability ofa herbicide compound to be used selectively maydepend on the amount used as well as the type. At least100 different herbicides or combinations are available.

Herbicides affect plants in three different ways. First,they can kill all parts of a plant with which they come incontact. Second, they may be absorbed through roots orfoliage and transported to all parts of the plant. Finally,a third group of herbicides sterilizes the soil.

The use of herbicides has been found to change thechemical content of certain plants. However, due to thephysiological differences between people and plants,many believe herbicides aren’t toxic to humans.Regardless, we should all bear in mind that since somecarcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic changes take


a long time to manifest themselves (several generationsfor mutagenic effects), herbicides should not be casu-ally dismissed as harmless compounds. What are somealternatives?

Keep up with weed and overgrowth problems throughmanual methods such as periodic trimming andremoval of nuisance species. This may show that youdon’t even need chemical herbicide treatments.However, in the event you cannot keep up with theproblem manually, and you decide to use an herbicide,choose the least toxic product that will work. Followthe directions and precautions on labels, apply theproduct selectively rather than randomly, and donot exceed the recommended application rates.

It is difficult to make a complete list of products towatch out for. Many undesirable pesticides arehidden behind long chemical names and fancylabels. If you are not certain, don’t use it until youcheck with a reliable source such asyour County Extension Agent.Many pesticides are far more dan-gerous than poisons such ascyanide, strychnine, and arsenic,which we have all learned torespect.

CHEMICAL STORAGE AND DISPOSAL ISSUES

Let common sense be your guide tothe safe storage of pesticides, fertil-izers and other householdchemicals. Avoid places whereflooding is possible. Wind directionshould also be considered.Structures should be dry, well venti-lated, easily accessible, designed toprevent fires, and separated from

other structures or rooms which may contain food.Be sure all containers are labeled.

Make certain that you don’t do more harm thangood when you discard these products and/or theircontainers. The best course of action is to use themup, little by little, over a long period of time. If youare determined to discard your chemical productsimmediately, follow label instructions or contactyour County Solid Waste Department or agricul-tural agent for advice. Many local governments hold“Amnesty Days” each year where potentially harm-ful materials, such as yard and home chemicals, canbe safely disposed of for free. Another possibilitywould be to check with your dealer who might beinterested in helping to recycle containers, emptyor otherwise.

Empty containers are seldom completely free ofresidue, so they must be disposed of just as care-

fully as the chemicals themselves. Mostcontainers can be largely decontaminatedby triple rinsing, so you are stronglyurged to follow this procedure. Don’tforget to use or dispose of rinse liquidsproperly too. They should be labeled asdilute solutions and applied like the orig-inal product. Use the rinsates to makenew batches of your product or dispose ofthem as you would unmixed product, butnever into a sewer or onto the ground.


YARD WASTE MANAGEMENT

Grass, yard clippings, and leaves are organic matterthat release nutrients bound within them when they

decompose. This can be used to your advantage ifthe nutrients are managed properly to amend yoursoil. Otherwise, these nutrients may cause problemsby exerting a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)on a waterbody. If the oxygen demand is too great,fish and other aquatic organisms may be killed.Nutrient releases also can trigger algae blooms andother related problems.

There once was quite abit of controversyamong horticulturistsabout the desirability ofremoving grass clip-pings after lawnmowing. This disputehas since been resolvedas indicated by the pro-liferation of mulchingmowers now on themarket. Unlike ordi-nary mowers, mulchingmowers do not have abag or discharge chute.Instead, the grass clip-pings are chopped veryfinely by special bladeand shroud configura-tions, and left on thelawn. Grass clippings

are recognized as a benefit to lawns, replacing nutrientsdrawn from the soil and as mulch that helps retain mois-ture, lessening the need to irrigate. Grass clippingsshould not present a problem for your waterbody if left

on your lawn. If your lawn mower is aconventional model equipped with aside discharge chute, the following prac-tices will help protect the waterbody.Direct the chute away from the water-body when mowing near the shoreline,and direct it back onto the yard, notonto the road or driveway, whenmowing upland areas.

Do not store or discard your collectedyard wastes by shorelines, in ditches orswales, or near storm drains. You mayoverload the capacity of your waterbodyto assimilate organic matter safely andbe causing or contributing to overen-richment of the system. Burning is alsoa poor alternative, because it releasessolid particles and smoke into the air.Burning not only causes air pollution,but these airborne pollutants may

return to the earth through rainfall and contaminateyour waterbody.

COMPOST HEAPS: THERE IS LITTLE IN THE WAY

OF A BETTER FERTILIZER AT ANY PRICE

Organic substances, including yard wastes, can berecycled in compost heaps with the resulting mate-


rial being an excellent soil amendment and con-ditioner. If you choose to collect your grassclippings, rather than leave them on your lawnfor aesthetic reasons, try composting them orbagging them for disposal at a community recy-cling facility.

The principal behind a compost heap is simple.It takes place in every forest where leaves, fallenwood, and other organic matter are converted tosoil conditioners (humus) by bacteria and otherorganisms that are aided by oxygen.

A compost heap is simply a means of carryingout this process in one spot, using materialssuch as grass clippings, leaves, and smallbranches that may accumulate on your property.A simple pile in a good location on your prop-erty will do the job. A cement block or woodenenclosure may be added to contain the pile.Some companies manufacture barrels and othercontainers that may speed up the process.

Regardless of the type of composting methodyou choose, make certain that you locate it onan upland portion of your property where it willnot impact your waterbody.

Other essential things to remember are:

1. The refuse must be kept damp but not soggy.Sprinkling periodically with a hose and thencovering the pile with atarp will help speed upthe process.

2. Oxygen must reachthrough the pilebecause the decayingprocess is aerobic. Turnor stir the pile with apitchfork on a weeklybasis.

3. Seed the pile by mixingin garden soil whichcontains essentialdecaying organisms.

4. Kitchen scraps can beput in the pile, butnever add meat or dairyproducts. They takelonger to convert to

compost and may create odor, pest and diseaseproblems.

What is your compost good for? Just abouteverything that store bought supplements areused for. Adding compost to your soil will:

• Help to aerate and loosen compacted soil, im-proving structure and texture.

• Increase the soil’s capacity to hold water andstimulate plant root development.

• Improve conditions for microorganisms,earthworms, and insects that further benefitthe soil by breaking down organic matter.

• Help reduce the demand on waste manage-ment facilities that formerly hauled and dis-posed of your biodegradable yard and kitchenmaterial.

We suggest that you contact your local nursery,gardening center or Cooperative ExtensionOffice for more information about compostingand other Florida Yards and Neighborhoodspractices.

Your local water management district may alsooffer advice about xeriscaping, which is a simi-lar program, which emphasizes landscapes thatconserve water.

S H O R E L I N E M A N A G E M E N T 27


S H O R E L I N E M A N A G E M E N T

horelines are complex areasthat can protect your upland

investments from the water you livenear. They also protect the water fromyour land-based activities. As if thatisn’t enough, shorelines are the pre-ferred habitat of many different typesof wildlife, especially young aquaticorganisms, and are prime recreationalareas. With such an important pur-pose, you might think our shorelineswould be quite durable or even inde-structible. You would be partlycorrect. In their natural state, shore-lines are very resilient and dynamic.That is, they yield and then recoverfrom most of the stresses to whichthey are subject. Shorelines alsochange shape as erosion occurs insome areas and deposition occurs inothers.

Wind driven water contains a lot ofenergy that is best dissipated upon agradually sloped shoreline. Unfortun-ately, this requires land we are oftenunwilling to relinquish for this pur-pose. We often build too close to theshoreline or in other flood proneareas. As a result, we end up spendingenormous amounts of money andeffort trying to protect a misplacedinvestment from damage. The prob-lem occurs when people cannotaccept the natural variability of theshore. Instead of abiding by nature’srules, loads of fill material arebrought in and seawalls may be built.This might help to save one propertybut often at the expense of neighboring shorelinesand the waterbody you live on. The loss of naturalshoreline vegetation harms our waterbodiesbecause these “kidneys” can no longer filter nutri-ents and other pollutants.

We should recognize and accept how nature works.Two processes, erosion and sedimentation, haveshaped and reshaped the earth into the form we cur-rently know it. Understanding and respect for theseprocesses, coupled with careful site planning, a good

S


landscape design, and the use of beneficial shorelinevegetation, can help you to protect your waterfrontproperty and the water it adjoins. To minimize shore-line erosion and protect our waterbodies, we can useseveral methods. These include:

• natural vegetation

• rip rap

• gabions

• seawalls – only as a last resort, normally not permittedon “waters of the state”

SHORELINE VEGETATION

Shoreline vegetation is part of the “kidneys” of awatershed. The root systems of vegetation help stabi-lize the soil along a shoreline, protecting it fromwaves and erosion. The leafy part of vegetation helpsreduce the velocity and erosion potential of surfacerunoff and absorbs wave energy. Shoreline plantsuptake nutrients from runoff preventing them fromentering the waterbody. Finally, some shorelineplants help reduce pollutants in the ground waterflowing to a stream or lake. A vegetated, tree linedshoreline may also provide shade that helps to keep

water temperatures low. Many game fish and otherdesirable aquatic organisms prefer cooler tempera-tures. As water temperature increases, its capacity tohold oxygen decreases. This can lead to an abun-dance of less desirable fish. Ideally, the shorelineshould remain completely natural - modification ofits form or shape inhibits a waterbody’s ability toeffectively use or absorb nutrients. Unfortunately,many waterfront owners have removed beneficialvegetation and formed sandy beaches along theirshorelines. This loss of a natural buffer may con-tribute to shock loads of nutrients and otherpollutants affecting the waterbody and may lead toerosion.

You can help restore the kidneys of your waterbodyby “aquascaping” your shoreline. Beneficial shorelinevegetation should be planted close to the shore alonga gentle slope. A wide shallow area, called the littoralzone, improves a plant’s filtering efficiency. Allow forwater level fluctuations and plan your work so themost depth tolerant species are planted closest to, orin, the water. Shoreline vegetation height shouldextend far above the water level. There is a directcorrelation between height and a plant’s nutrientabsorptive capacity. In fact, if vegetation height isclipped below the water level, a buffer zone’s filteringefficiency steadily declines to zero.


A partial list of desirable shoreline species for fresh-water systems follows:

Common Name Scientific NameDelta duck potato. . . . . . . . . . . . Sagittaria lancifoliaCommon arrowhead . . . . . . . . . . . Sagittaria latifolia

Softstem Bullrush

Softstem bullrush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scirpus validusGiant bullrush. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scirpus californicusWood grass bullrush. . . . . . . . . . . Scirpus cyperinusJoint grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Panicum geminatumMaidencane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Panicum hemitomonPickerelweed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pontederia cordataCardinal flower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lobelia cardinalis

We suggest contacting yourlocal Regional Biologist withthe Department’s Bureau ofInvasive Plant Management forhelp with selecting plants andlocating sources for thoseplants in your area.

In addition, a simple, free ofcharge permit may be requiredfrom the bureau, for activitiesinvolving aquatic plants alongyour lakefront.

Pickerelweed


RIP RAP

Rip rap is an environmentally friendly alternative toconsider for some situations where higher wave energylevels require more buffering than shoreline vegetationalone can provide.

The photo above depicts erosion up to the treeline of anunprotected shoreline in northwest Florida.

The photo at right, taken in February 2000 in the samegeneral vicinity, shows how rip rap installed in 1988helps to protect the shorelines of five waterfronthomes. The rip rap was placed to absorb wave energyand control erosion, but it also provides great habitatfor crabs and juvenile fishes. In addition, marsh vegeta-tion that was planted up to forty feet landward of the rip

rap has flourished providing even more wonderful habi-tat and further helping to stabilize the area.

The project, which was built through a short termdredge and fill permit issued by the Northwest DistrictOffice of FDEP, has endured several hurricanes and is asuccess story by all accounts. It is recommended thatsimilar designs be considered for other areas with grad-ual sloping shorelines.

For steeply sloped shorelines where a seawall is needed(and permitted) rip rap can be placed in front of thewall, as shown below, to help absorb energy and pro-vide additional habitat in the littoral zone, which is themost biologically productive area in a waterbody.


GABIONS

Gabions are rectangular baskets made of heavy galva-nized or PVC coated steel mesh. The baskets areassembled in place, laced together, and filled with rockto form a continuous, strong yet flexible structure.

Successive rows of gabions may be stacked to buildwalls. For more gradual slopes wider, shallower bas-kets called Reno Mattresses can be used.

Gabions and mattresses use one third of the amountof stone required for protection by rip-rap alone, andcan use smaller sized stone. Specialized equipmentand skilled labor are not required. Vegetation can beestablished by adding soil to the stone during instal-lation, or by allowing natural siltation to occur.Gabions will fill in with vegetation over time provid-ing habitat value as well as protection from erosion.

SEAWALLS

Steeply sloped shorelines that are exposed to a lot ofenergy from wind, waves, and boat wakes are more

likely to erode than calmer areas or gradually slopedshorelines.

As a last resort, for very high-energy shorelines, a sea-wall may be an acceptable solution. However, bear inmind that it may not be permitted in many locations.If a seawall is needed and allowed, where possible, itshould be setback on the uplands portion of the prop-erty. This setback will help minimize the removal ofshoreline vegetation that is important to the water-body’s ecosystem.

If a seawall has already been constructed on your prop-erty, it is helpful to place a swale and berm system afoot or two back from the wall. This will prevent thedirect discharge of stormwater runoff over the wall byallowing it to percolate through the soil behind thewall.

Terracing, or gradually stepping down a steeply slopedproperty as mentioned on page 12, might eliminate theneed for a seawall altogether. A variety of materialsincluding wood and masonry can be used to help sta-bilize particularly vulnerable areas.


WATER LEVEL FLUCTUATION HAS MANY BENEFITS


lthough water levels are not usually within thecontrol of most waterfront property owners,understanding a few important principles can

help make you a better neighbor to the many fish,wildlife, and plants that require highly varied waterlevels to thrive. Unfortunately, the levels of manylakes are stabilized by the use of weirs and/or canals.This has been done to help reduce flooding andbecause citizens become concerned when water levelsbecome very low affecting recreational use and viewsof waterbodies.

Ironically, considering all of the work that has goneinto limiting the range of water levels, studies indi-cate that water level stabilization efforts are acontributing factor to the increasing degradation ofFlorida lakes. In fact, natural lakes that fluctuatewidely during wet and dry periods can tolerate morepollution than those with regulated lake levels.

As the water level lowers, unconsolidated bottom sedi-ments are exposed to air and direct sunlight. This allowsthem to dry and solidify. Firmer sediments provide ahealthier substrate for aquatic plants. In turn, these plantsare important for game fish spawning, along with thereproductive cycles of other aquatic organisms. In essence,these aquatic plants promulgate a more diverse ecosystem.

Exposing sediments to air and sunlight also helps oxidizethe nutrients that are stored in them so that they are notavailable as food for algae. This lessens the chances foralgae blooms that can exhaust a lake’s oxygen supply.Another benefit of low water levels is that it concentratesrough fish (those considered less desirable) into a morecentral location. This allows predators easier access,thereby providing a periodic check on rough fish popula-tions. Low water levels are so important to a healthywaterbody that a drawdown, which is the deliberate lower-ing of water levels, is a common method of restoring lakes.

A

Lake Jackson sinkhole provides natural restoration.

W A T E R L E V E L F L U C T U A T I O N H A S M A N Y B E N E F I T S 33

High water levels can also help by broadening thezone of wetlands around a lake, thereby increasingits buffer capacity against runoff. High water mayalso interconnect discrete waterbodies, allowing fishand wildlife populations to mix. This can improvethe genetic diversity of resident species. Periodicflooding can replace stagnant water in a system witha fresh supply to the benefit of all.

Waterfront property owners may not directly control thegates and valves that regulate water levels, but they caninfluence and support policy directed towards more fluc-tuations. Planning to live with more varied levels canreduce the strain of adapting to them after the fact. Forexample, permanent structures should be located wellbeyond the floodplain, moorings should be designed fora broad range of conditions, and recreational uses of thewaterbody should be scheduled for appropriate times.

any waterbodies in Florida are naturallyeutrophic or highly productive due to their

location near a swampy lowland or another area ofnutrient rich soils. Some of these waters are not pol-luted and may, in fact, be renowned for their fisheriesand importance to local economies. However, othersare stressed by cultural impacts. It is important to rec-ognize the difference, where your waterbody isconcerned, to avoid wasting your time and money.

For example, trying to manage a highly productive nat-ural lake with dense vegetation and great fisheries toaccommodate a desire for pleasure boating is an exer-cise in futility. On the other hand, if a favoriteswimming area has been polluted by runoff or othercultural sources, you may succeed in restoring it to itsformer beauty and uses through various managementpractices.

So, how do you determine what type of waterbody youhave and why it appears as it does?

For lakes, a good place to startis with the Florida LakeRegions map. The map charac-terizes 47 distinct lake regionsin Florida. It will help you toestablish a reasonable expecta-tion for your lake. There aremore than 7,700 lakes inFlorida. Swampy lakes differfrom those on ridges, andperched sand hill lakes differfrom the solution lakes of karstareas. Some lakes are affectedby ground water while othersare fed by surface waters. Thevariations in size, shape, andhydrology are endless, as arethe characteristics of a lake’swatershed such as location,soil, slope, and land use. Aposter version of the map isavailable from local DEP andwater management districtoffices, DEP’s Office ofEnvironmental Education, andDEP’s Nonpoint Source

Management and Water Quality Standards Section. Theposter contains descriptions of each region and addi-tional information about nitrogen, phosphorus,alkalinity, pH, and color distributions.

Florida Lakewatch is a citizen-based volunteer monitor-ing organization that may be able to help you better



ESTABLISHING REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS

M

E S T A B L I S H I N G R E A S O N A B L E E X P E C T A T I O N S F O R Y O U R W A T E R B O D Y 35

understand your waterbody. The volunteers typicallyuse physical and chemical methods of monitoring tocharacterize the water. However, they also have anextensive database with which to compare and contrastthese results, which makes the information more valu-able than randomly collected data. Lakewatch, which ismanaged by the University of Florida in Gainesville, isinterested in more than just lakes. Some of their sam-pling is conducted on rivers and estuaries. You can learnmore about Florida Lakewatch from their website athttp://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~lakewatch/index.htm or bycalling 1-800-LAKEWATCH.

The Florida bioregions are areas where you wouldexpect streams to have similar biological characteristics,such as the types of insects that live there. There are fourFlorida Bioregions; the Everglades region, northeastFlorida, the panhandle, and the Peninsula. Within eachbioregion, the streams that are relatively clean serve asbaselines for measuring pollution. These typically havemore natural land use within their watersheds. A StreamCondition Index (SCI) should be used together with thebioregions to help see how healthy a waterbody’s aquaticinsect community is. Just as a doctor uses several meas-urements (i.e. blood pressure, temperature, etc.) todetermine human health, the SCI consists of seven dif-ferent measurements of aquaticcommunity health. Cleanstreams will have high SCIscores, while those affected byhuman activities will scorelower. Changes in the biologi-cal community may be causedby water pollution or loss ofhabitat, such as occurs whenexcess stormwater erodes astream bed. Please refer to thenext section for more informa-tion about the SCI andbioassessments.

ASSESSING ANDMONITORING

The United States Environ-mental Protection Agency(USEPA) recommends a threestep approach using biologicalsampling, chemical monitor-ing, and toxicology studies tocharacterize the health of awaterbody. While this ap-proach is optimal, it is alsovery expensive.

BIOLOGY

We suggest beginning with a rapid bioassessment orbiorecon, which can be followed by more detailedbiological sampling and/or select chemical monitor-ing if unanswered questions remain. Biologyintegrates the effects of pollution (and restorationefforts) over time providing a comprehensive assess-ment of waterbody health. Consequently, biologicalassessments are becoming increasingly popular.Several tiers of bioassessments are possible dependingupon the level of accuracy required. These should beperformed by a qualified scientist as they require a lotof experience to do correctly, but the results are fairlyeasy to understand. For example, when a bioassess-ment is done by a FDEP biologist, a short reportcalled an ecosummary is prepared. These have beenproduced for many waterbodies throughout Florida.An ecosummary or other report may be available foryour waterbody. There is a very good discussionabout bioassessments, and the use of aquatic insectsto tell us about water pollution, on DEP’s website atwww.dep.state.fl.us/water/bioassess/index.htm. Selectthe public information key word and learn moreabout how bioassessments can help you determinethe conditions and trends of your waterbody.


CHEMISTRY

Sometimes, biological dataalone is not enough. Forexample, an extreme droughtor flood may disturb benthicindicator organisms for aperiod of time suggesting thatthe system is impaired, when,in fact, water quality may beexcellent. Chemistry, whichhas been the backbone ofmost water quality samplingprograms for decades, canhelp. While chemistry datatypically provides only asnapshot of the condition of awaterbody, this informationmay identify a condition thatrequires more attention. The difficulty is that condi-tions can vary dramaticallythroughout the course of aday and on a seasonal basis, or if a rainstorm occurs.This can be overcome by continuous chemical moni-toring, which provides better information than grabsamples, but it is very expensive.

TOXICOLOGY STUDIES

The third part of EPA’s recommended methods fordetermining the health of a waterbody, toxicologystudies can pinpoint the causes of phenomena such

as fish kills and wildlife abnormalities. However,they are expensive to conduct and should thereforebe used only for special situations.

There is no one right way to characterize the healthof your waterbody. Each situation requires an appro-priate plan. Your approach may depend on the typeof support that is available from a volunteer moni-toring organization, local government, the regionalwater management district or FDEP.

DEVELOPING A WATER RESOURCE

MANAGEMENT PLAN

Finally, once your waterbody ischaracterized and its health hasbeen accurately determined, youcan begin thinking about devel-oping a management plan.

This usually involves organizingpeople as well as ideas. The pam-phlet “Developing a LakeManagement Plan” published byDEP’s Bureau of Invasive PlantManagement is a useful guide tothe process of managing all typesof water resources, not just lakes.You may obtain a copy by calling(850) 487-2600.

lorida has an abundance of rivers, lakes and es-tuaries. These are important to Florida’s econo-

my and the quality of life enjoyed by all Floridians.They provide recreation, attract tourists, and createhigher property values. However, from a water qual-ity viewpoint, this abundance of waterbodies hassome disadvantages. Where there are only a fewmajor waterbodies, everyone living in the vicinity isconcerned about their water quality. Broad-based cit-izen support for the waterbody can be generated,with the objective being to fund a clean-up program.Once control methods and funding are identified, implementation can begin.However, here in Florida, im-proving water quality is a more difficultproposition.

Many personsare concernedwith improvingwater quality,yet it is hard forthem to sympa-thize with a prob-lem that does not directly affectthem. For instance, aCounty “A” residentmay be very interestedin improved waterquality for a certainlake, which aCounty “B” residentcares little about be-cause they never seeor use that lake. To ask the County“B” resident to fund a County “A” clean-up project isconsidered unfair by many persons. Further compli-cating matters is that there are relatively few steadfastrules in devising watershed management plans. Eachsituation is different, requiring tailored solutions.

Fortunately, Florida’s Legislature has provided stateagencies, water management districts, and local govern-ments with many ways to buy land and implement otherprojects to restore waterbodies. Some of these include:

FLORIDA FOREVER ACT

The successor to Preservation 2000, this program willprovide funding, not just for land acquisition, but alsothe management of acquired lands and the restoration ofdegraded waters. The Florida Department ofEnvironmental Protection receives nearly $3 million peryear for research and implementation of BMP’s to reduceurban storm-water pollution. The Florida Department

of Agriculture and ConsumerServices (FDACS) receives asimilar amount of fundingfor reducing agriculturalNPS pollution. Additionally,many local governmentshave enacted similarfunding programs forthese types of activities.

SECTION 319 GRANTS

Each year, the Florida Department of

E n v i r o n m e n t a lProtection receivesabout $9 millionfor projects de-

signed to re-duce nonpointsources of pollu-tion and im-prove waterbodyhealth. For moredetails about Sec-

tion 319, see theNonpoint SourceManagement and

Water Quality Stan-dards Section web

page at www.dep.state.fl.us/water/stormwater/grants.htm.

STATE REVOLVING FUND (SRF)

In 2000, the Florida legislature amended chapter 403,f.s., to allow low interest loans by the state revolvingfund to be used for projects that reduce pollution fromurban and agricultural stormwater.

F U N D I N G O P P O R T U N I T I E S 37


F U N D I N G O P P O R T U N I T I E S

F


For more information about the SRF loan program,see the water facilities funding web page atwww.dep.state.fl.us/water/wff/index.htm.

STORMWATER UTILITY FEES

In 1986, the Florida legislature enacted Section403.0893, Florida Statutes., authorizing local govern-ments to implement stormwater utility fees. Thesefees provide a dedicated source of funds for localstormwater management programs. These fees usu-ally are based on the amount of impervious surface oneach parcel of land.

SPECIAL DISTRICTS

In an era where “Government” is often criticized forbeing inefficient and burdensome, let’s acknowledge atruly effective concept—Municipal Service Taxing(MST) Districts. The formation of a MST District canprovide a source of funding to maintain, restore andprotect your waterbody. Because of their positive pur-pose, MST Districts are also referred to as MunicipalService Benefit Units. More importantly, MSTDistricts provide an equitable means of sharing fund-ing between those persons who contribute to thepollution and those who enjoy the beauty and use ofthe resource. The organization of a MST District varies dependingupon whether you live within city limits or in an

unincorporated area of the county. In all areas, sub-mittal of an information petition is required. UnderChapter 125 of the Florida Statutes, it is stated:“......(6)(a) The governing body of a municipality ormunicipalities by resolution, or the citizens of amunicipality or county by petition of 10 percent ofthe qualified electors of such unit, may identify aservice rendered specially for the benefit of the prop-erty or residents in unincorporated areas andfinanced from countywide revenues and petition theboard of county commissioners to develop an appro-priate mechanism to finance such activity, which mayeither be by taxes, special assessments, or servicecharges levied solely upon residents or property inthe unincorporated area by the establishment of amunicipal service taxing or benefit unit pursuant toparagraph (1) of subsection (q) or by remitting theidentified cost of service paid by the taxes leviedupon property situate within the municipality ormunicipalities.....”

However, individual city or county policy can dictateotherwise. For example, Orange County requires apetition containing 2/3 of the residents within theMST District. It could be that your MST District willencompass both property within city limits and unin-corporated areas of the county. In fact, there can be somany variables, it is advisable to contact your gov-erning body to find out the specifics of MST Districtformation in your area.

LEAN WATER - Please be sure to do somethingeach day to assure our children may have

clean water tomorrow.

Florida’s growing population and intensive agricul-tural production continue to place many strains onour vulnerable surface and ground water resources.Government alone can not assure the long term sus-tainability of these water resources.

Reducing nonpoint source or “pointless personalpollution”, the main source of water quality prob-

lems in Florida, ultimately depends on each andevery Floridian.

We hope this book has helped you to better under-stand how your everyday activities affect our waterresources. More importantly, we hope that it willstimulate Floridians to be part of the solution,instead of part of the problem.

Remember, that if we all do a little, we can do a lotto help assure that future generations will enjoy themany benefits of clean water.

S U M M A R Y 39


S U M M A R Y

C

Florida LAKEWATCH/Project COAST - University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences,7922 NW 71st Street, PO Box 110600, Gainesville, FL 32611-06001-800-LAKEWATCH (525-3928), Fax: 352/392-4902,http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu

Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program (FYN) –University of FloridaInstitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS),Department of Environmental Horticulture, 1545 W.M. Fifield Hall, PO Box 110670, Gainesville, FL 32611-0670(352) 392-1831, Fax: (352) 392-3870,http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu or your local FloridaCooperative Extension Service Office

Florida Stormwater Association (aka Florida Association of Stormwater Utilities) –PO Box 867, Tallahassee, FL 32302, 850/561-0904, Fax 850/222-4124http://www.fasu.org/main/

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer ServicesOffice of Water Policy, 1203 Governors Square Blvd., Suite 200Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650(850) 488-6249; Fax: (850) 921-2153,http://doacs.state.fl.us/awp/index.html

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionDivision of Freshwater Fisheries, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600,Phone: 850/488-0520; Fax: 850/413-0381,http://floridafisheries.com/

Florida Department of Environmental ProtectionOffice of Environmental Education, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS-30 Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000, 850/488-9334, FAX 850/922-6615

Florida Department of Environmental ProtectionDistrict OfficesNorthwest District – (850) 595-8300Northeast District – (904) 807-3300Central District – (407) 894-7555Southwest District – (813) 744-6100Southeast District – (561) 681-6600South District – (941) 332-6975

State of Florida Water Management District OfficesNorthwest Florida Water Management District – (850) 539-5999Southwest Florida Water Management District – (800) 423-1476South Florida Water Management District – (800) 547-1066Suwannee River Water Management District – (800) 226-1006St. Johns River Water Management District – (800) 451-7106



A D D I T I O N A L R E S O U R C E S

Waterfront Property Owner's Guide - CHNEP Water Atlas

Documents

Transcript of Waterfront Property Owner's Guide - CHNEP Water Atlas