A Water Quality Education Campaign

Help stopPOINTLESS

PERSONAL

POLLUTION

Our Water ResourcesOur Water Resources

Wakulla River

Welcome to your WatershedWelcome to your Watershed

A land area that drains to a single point – a lake, stream, wetland or sink

Tallahassee’s threemajor watersheds - Lakes Jackson, Munson and Lafayette

Lake Munson – one of the most polluted in Florida.

Lake Jackson is up here. It has its

own watershed.

Lake Munson Watershed drains most of downtown Tallahassee.

Beautiful, but Polluted,Beautiful, but Polluted, Lake Munson Lake Munson

Munson Slough drains to Lake Munson

Eight Mile Pond is below Lake Munson

Go to the website http://tappwater.org/lakes-lakes.aspx to read more about Lake Munson

UniquenessUniqueness of Big Bend Geography of Big Bend Geography Our natural water system is especially sensitive.Our natural water system is especially sensitive.

Red clayRed clay Shallow lakesShallow lakes Limestone karstLimestone karst Subtropical weather patternsSubtropical weather patterns

STORMSSTORMS = Runoff = Runoff Drainage Drainage Streams, Lakes, Sinks Streams, Lakes, Sinks Aquifer Aquifer

Our Big Bend Our Big Bend GeographyGeography

Source: Northwest Florida Water Management DistrictSource: Northwest Florida Water Management District

Small and large

sinkholes form

all the time.

Man’s leg for size comparison

Every lake in Leon County is

affected by one or more large

sinkholes.

Eutrophication“Too much to eat”

Why Your Yard MattersEvery drop we lose, Nature finds.

What’s good for What’s good for your yard can be your yard can be

bad for your lake.bad for your lake.

Too much plant food (nutrients) can create an explosion of plant growth = algae bloom

Nutrients are used up massive plant die-offDecomposition uses up Oxygen fish die

Down the Drain

What you can do Capture the water – Capture the water – Slow the flowSlow the flow.. Prevent Prevent erosionerosion - keep your yard at home. - keep your yard at home. Smart Smart fertilizing - your yard, not your lakefertilizing - your yard, not your lake Pick upPick up after your pet. after your pet. Check your Check your septic systemseptic system every 3 - 5 years. every 3 - 5 years. Don’t spillDon’t spill oil or gasoline. oil or gasoline.

Slow the flow! Think About Personal Pollution

Dog waste has 6 times more bacteria than human waste.

The job of cleaning up after your pet can be simple – just take a plastic bag or pooper scooper along on your next walk.

What to do with the waste?

• Bury it in the yard.• Throw it in the trash.• Flush it down the toilet.

Use your yard to clean the waterUse your yard to clean the water

Slow the flowSlow the flow of water leaving the yardof water leaving the yard Use fertilizers and pesticides with careUse fertilizers and pesticides with care Keep your yard at home – stop erosionKeep your yard at home – stop erosion

Capture your water Capture your water Slow the Flow Slow the Flow

Rain Gardens

Berms, buffers and terraces

Mulching

Hey, that’s my yard!

It’s never too early to Think About Personal Pollution

For more information, visit

www.TAPPwater.org